![]() ![]() Also, since this is a Wynorski picture, they are beautiful women in very skimpy outfits which no doubt adds to the appeal for a certain demographic. And as in Deathstalker II, it makes them fun to follow. Where a completely straight action or fantasy film would see the hero grimace with stern purpose when infiltrating the enemy camp, Angel, Whitestar and Heather delight in pointing out the silliness around them. ![]() Nonetheless, he still managed to deliver a satisfying, if paper thin tale thanks to a tactic he would employ again in Deathstalker II: his main characters quip in the face of “serious” moments. Wynorski, as writer and director, could not be more transparent about his influences unless he appeared on screen to tell you which scenes correspond to which source. In reality, Sin Do and Lee Chuck are one and the same, and he uses the cult to keep a fresh supply of victims for his debt to Satan.Īnd if the whole thing sounds like a fever dream cooked up from watching a marathon of James Bond movies, Charlie’s Angels and Enter the Dragon, that’s the charm. There, they discover Sin Do is running some sort of martial arts competition to find women worthy enough to join Lee Chuck’s army. She decides to investigate the cult on its mysterious island recruiting Native American warrior woman Whitestar (Raven De La Croix) and incarcerated criminal Heather McClure (Angela Aames) to accompany her. He also tips Angel off to a connection between Lee Chuck and a cult leader named Dr Sin Do (Angus Scrimm). When combined with the other Eye, the two gems can generate enough power for Lee Chuck to conquer the world. They were after an artifact called the Eye of the Avatar. Later, Angel visits the crime scene, where a mysterious red gem slips its way into her purse, and meets with a precarious Charlie Chan knock-off who guesses why Lee Chuck’s ninjas tried to rob the jeweler store. He’s said to be immortal and that he must give the Devil a fresh soul every night to make good on their bargain. The other cops die within moments, but Angel’s brother manages to hold on long enough to give her a ninja star and tell her “the Devil exists, and the Eye knows where.”Īfter her brother dies, Angel’s sometimes lover Rick Stanton (Paul Coufos) tells her the ninja star could only originate with one person: the legendary Lee Chuck. When he and three other officers arrive on the scene, they end up confronting a bunch of ninjas. ![]() Her brother is also on the force and answers a call about a robbery at a Chinatown jeweler store. The plot centers on LAPD Inspector Angel Wolfe (Melanie Vincz). And it begins with this weekend’s cheesy movie, The Lost Empire. But when Wynorski finally got the chance to direct, a certain innocence enters his work. The latter is about a bunch of horny teen boys trying to get girls to take their tops off. The former is a Roger Corman-produced sword-and-sandal picture with the high ambition of getting some twins to take their tops off. In this regard, it is easy to see the sleazy impulse in his early scripts for films like Sorceress and Screwballs. And while some of his films are immensely enjoyable, like previous Weekend Cheesy Movie entries Deathstalker II and Chopping Mall, there is a certain sleaze factor to him. The man worked with Roger Corman, Fred Olen Ray and some of the best fly-by-night producers of the 90s and early 21st Century. If we ever discuss another erotic thriller, his 1994 film Point of Seduction: Body Chemistry III is a prime candidate. The man is so prolific, he can journey from family movies to crude sex parodies within six months. Some of them with indefensible titles like The Witches of Breastwick and Piranhaconda. The Deathstalker II director has a made a lot of movies. In Your Weekend Cheesy Movie, we’ll examine some of these misguided efforts for what they fail at achieving and what they manage to do right. Others become entertaining in spite of their flaws or authorial intent. Despite an earnest attempt to create compelling stories, filmmakers often miss the mark.
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