A lone monk stands in front of a small temple that is just barely shaded by the fledgling forest it sits adjacent to. He has traveled many miles and for many days to impart what isn’t a new system of beliefs; but rather an extension and a better understanding of an existing system of beliefs. His first attempts were fruitless and he was angrily forced away. Now he seeks refuge and hopes to find it in the meager temple before him.

The monks inside greet him and allow him to stay with them. He is grateful. That night, they hold palaver and he finds that the monks are not only intrigued by his teachings, but are more than willing to learn from him. To show appreciation for their hospitality, he promises to show them paths to health and spiritual awareness. Unfortunately, his methods require extensive meditation and he is startled to find that the monks are in such poor physical condition that most of them fall asleep during the process.

A very simple solution is reached. The monks are to perform 18 hand exercises that, when coupled with strict breathing techniques, will strengthen their bodies and allow them to handle the rigors of meditation. These hand movements also double as self defense tactics, which will become useful in dealing with the many bandits that come through the forest.

The monks practice the motions religiously. Eventually, they challenge themselves and begin to modify and expand on the exercises by combining them with movements they feel represent and accurately duplicate the movements of animals in battle. Five animals in particular are chosen: the crane, the serpent, the leopard, the dragon, and, of course, the tiger.

The temple by the young forest will soon beget something special.

Young – Shao.

Forest – Lin.

Shaolin kung fu is born.

Bodhidarma was the monk’s name when he left his native India. In China, he was known as Tamo (sometimes Damo). Killer Priest, a.k.a. Shaolin Monk, is a small, and likely dramatized portion of his story.

When the town physician unwittingly dispenses poison to the victims of the plague that is ravaging Lung City, his shame and his guilt cause him to commit suicide. His son, Chi Yung, swears vengeance on whomever tampered with his family’s medicine. His kung fu is weak, so he finally agrees to train under Tamo, who was already trying to convince him to be his disciple, anyway.

Martial arts movies are generally about revenge, presumably because it’s the easiest way to justify having a “good guy” beating people’s @sses. So the aforementioned scenario is more than enough plot to base an entire movie on. But a big part of what separates Killer Priest from other kung fu flicks is its willingness to have a subplot and explore emotions other than anger through it (the other part is its basis, loose as it may be, in actual history).

Tamo is very steadfast in his prediction that Chi Yung will become a monk. Seems nice, but that would mean he has to be remain celibate for the remainder of his life, which doesn’t sit well with his girl, Yen. A fair amount of tension is built between Tamo and Yen and it gradually steamrolls into a hatred on Yen’s part. All three are put in situations in which they have to work together and Chi Yung is torn between having his master and his love constantly at odds with each other. This is a very real drama, and is perhaps more accessible and more relatable than the murder of a loved one, which is how we are normally asked to feel for a character in this type of movie.

It turns out that a martial artist named Sao Tin Hu was behind the plot to replace the physicians medicine with poison. He was run out of town years earlier and has gotten his revenge. His kung fu is capable and enough to give him an advantage in his initial battle with Chi Yung, but his weaknesses are exposed when Tamo enters the fray and thoroughly trounces him. This results in Sao Tin Hu retreating to the mountains to ask his master for assistance. His master first promises to teach him how to defeat Tamo. He then opts to enter the battle, himself. This sets the stage for a long and well choreographed final battle, the highlight of which is the confrontation between Tamo and Sao Tin Hu’s master who fights with a smoking, steel palm.

There is a lot to like about Killer Priest. Its story runs a bit deeper than a typical kung fu movie and the fights are all done well. Phillip Ko plays Sao Tin Hu’s master, and the connoisseur will instantly recognize him, as he is legendary in the genre. He, once again, plays the villain in white beard here, and his Searing Palm technique is quite gangsta.

With the good comes the bad, though. A lot is left unexplained, particularly why Tamo was so adamant about taking Chi Yung under his wing in the first place. And in this genre, characters often display abilities that aren’t exactly feasible, but it’s taken a bit far here. When Sao Tin Hu initially wants to get the denizens of the village on his side, he promises to execute a ritual that will bring rain to nourish their crops. Sure enough, he causes it to rain. There is another scene in which Tao takes a small piece of a plant and tosses it into a river. He then steps onto it and floats across. The most bizarre, though, involves a floating, talking shoe remotely controlled by Tamo.

You’ll either love or hate Tamo. He comes off as a bit of a loner, until he decides he wants Chi Yung as his disciple. His kung fu and his will are equally strong. His persistence is what may turn some off, though. The most famous line from this movie is “Buddha, bless you,” which he says many, many, MANY times. That doesn’t bother me at all, but I can imagine it would become irritating to some.

The good far outweighs the bad, though. And any chance of seeing Phillip Ko is a chance worth taking advantage of. Killer Priest is a worthy addition to any martial arts catalog. The novelty of the Searing Palm technique and the overall quality of the fight choreography should hold the interest of the casual fan as well.

3.5 stars

Note: I’ve had this on VHS for years. I recently bought the DVD, but the movie contained within was NOT Killer Priest. So I exchanged it and got the same movie. I’m not sure if the wrong movie was shipped in all the Killer Priest DVD cases, or if I just got two from the same bum shipment. In either case, the VHS is the sure bet if you want to pick this up.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older