Thursday, April 1, 2021

BLOODFIST 7: MANHUNT (1995) **

Bloodfist 6 found Don “The Dragon” Wilson (WKA World Kickboxing Champion) starring in a Die Hard clone.  This seventh outing is like a variation on the durable Wrong Man theme.  Wilson plays a Good Samaritan who rescues a woman (Jillian McWhirter) from some unruly bikers.  After he spends the night with her, she disappears without a trace.  When Don goes looking for her, he gets jumped by a guy, who he kills in self-defense.  Naturally, it turns out the assailant was an off-duty cop, and it’s up to Don to go on the lam to find the only woman who can possibly clear his name. 

The best of the Bloodfist movies are passable, enjoyable ways to kill eighty-six minutes.  At their worst, they are thoroughly disposable and forgettable entertainment.  Bloodfist 7:  Manhunt falls somewhere in the middle ground.  It is far from Wilson’s best work, but it is watchable.  The overly familiar plot and uninspired action sequences hold it back from being a worthwhile entry in the long-running series.  However, fans of Wilson will enjoy seeing him portraying another likeable character who is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and so must kick a bunch of people in the face for eighty-six minutes. 

Director Jonathan (Black Scorpion) Winfrey doesn’t bring a lot of style to the proceedings.  Because of that, it sometimes feels like one of those “Action Pack” TV movies from the ‘90s.  He keeps things moving at an acceptable pace, although the thin plot often chases its tail (especially in the second act). 

Wilson delivers another fine performance.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a whole lot of support.  The only other name in the cast is 21 Jump Street’s Steven Williams, who plays the detective trying to bring down Wilson.  He does an OK job, but McWhirter makes for a bland love interest, and the villains are weak, which makes this Manhunt not worth tracking down.

AKA:  Man Hunt:  Bloodfist 7.  AKA:  Manhunt.

1 comment:

  1. This was one of my favorite of the Bloodfist movies.

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