Exact Revenge Review

You may not be familiar with the Shaw Brothers, but their influence on Western filmmakers has been immense. Quentin Tarantino famously showcased the Shaw Brothers production company title card at the beginning of Kill Bill: Volume 1, and that film serves as a love letter to their work—evident in its use of the Ironside theme, reminiscent of King Boxer. Yuen Woo-ping—credited as Yuen Wo-Ping—served as the choreographer for Kill Bill: Volume 1 and also choreographed The Deadly Knives, one of the films included in the latest Shaw Brothers Blu-ray release, Exact Revenge.

Two tales of revenge are served up in one package. Exact Revenge features two classic Shaw Brothers films presented on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere. The set includes The Eunuch, directed by Teddy Yip Wing-Cho, and The Deadly Knives (also known as Fists of Vengeance), directed by Jang Il-Ho. These are two straightforward revenge stories that may lack the refinement needed to leave a lasting impact, yet they offer enough entertainment to make an impression.

The Eunuch opens with the cunning and ruthless Gui De-hai (Pai Ying) thwarting an assassination attempt ordered by the emperor. Determined to claim the throne, he murders the emperor’s youngest son and wife. In a final act of defiance, the emperor takes his own life. On the brink of seizing power, Gui De-hai discovers that Prince Zhu Jin (Hua Tsung) is missing and orders his men to track him down. Meanwhile, the prince escapes and begins to plot his revenge.

Running a brisk 98 minutes, The Eunuch launches at a breakneck pace, moving swiftly from scene to scene with barely a moment to breathe. Characters are introduced and developed almost instantly. The rapid tempo draws viewers into the story, allowing us to grasp the characters’ motivations early on. However, this momentum eventually stalls. Had the film maintained its initial pace, it could have wrapped up in under an hour. Instead, the second half introduces plot elements that defy logic and strain credibility, culminating in a finale that lacks emotional weight due to its implausibility.

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Where it may falter narratively, The Eunuch excels in the action department. While you won’t find the fluid camerawork and kinetic, fast-paced action characteristic of late ’70s and ’80s martial arts films, what it offers instead are elegantly staged fight sequences—simple, yet beautifully executed. Featuring dynamic wirework, bone-crunching punches that send hapless goons spewing buckets of blood, and clean, effective cinematography, The Eunuch showcases why the Shaw Brothers became synonymous with Hong Kong action cinema.

The Eunuch is a flawed yet solid action film and a commendable companion to the other title in this set, The Deadly Knives. The Deadly Knives opens with young lovers Guan Yue-hua (Ching Li) and Yan Zi-fei (Ling Yun) as they journey back to their hometown. Yan Zi-fei’s family is embroiled in a dispute with a group of Japanese led by Ogawa, who desires their forested land. The Japanese will stop at nothing to obtain it, and Yan Zi-fei is determined to protect his honour at any cost.

While it does lean into certain period clichés—such as the portrayal of Japanese villains threatening to destroy the Chinese spirit—The Deadly Knives presents a strong and gripping narrative from start to finish. Ogawa’s relentless pursuit of the land is genuinely sinister, and this menace spills into two scenes that vary in their execution. The film includes two graphic and overt rape scenes that are handled with a heavy hand. Rape is one of the most horrific acts a man can commit, and these scenes—prioritising the aesthetic framing of the victim over the sheer horror of the act—are unsettling for the wrong reasons.

As mentioned earlier, Yuen Woo-ping choreographed the action alongside Yuen Cheung-Yan, and the results are genuinely thrilling. An opening one-take action scene aboard a train serves as a brilliant introduction to the lead character, and the quality remains consistent throughout. The final set piece, while chaotic, features fantastic coverage that preserves flow and spatial clarity—you’re never lost in the action.

Eureka Entertainment has released another Blu-ray packed to the brim with features. Both films look astonishing, especially considering their age. While occasional flaws—such as out-of-focus shots—reveal the films’ vintage, the high-quality scans make even studio walls more visible, yet they add to the charm and capture the raw beauty of early ’70s Hong Kong action. The release also includes insightful audio commentaries and a pitch-perfect video essay by Jonathan Clements. Eureka has knocked it out of the park once again.

Exact Revenge offers two films that, while imperfect, are underrated gems in the Shaw Brothers catalogue. While I wouldn’t recommend them as an entry point into the studio’s legacy (that honour belongs to Dirty Ho or The 36th Chamber of Shaolin), for longtime fans or those looking to explore lesser-known titles, Exact Revenge is a must-buy.

★★★1/2

Out Now on Blu-ray / Pai Ying, Hua Tsung, Ching Li, Ling Yun / Dir: Teddy Yip Win-Cho, Jang Il-Ho / Eureka Entertainment / 18