Kung Fu Deadly (Fantastic Fest Review)

I love movies that throw you into a story that feels nostalgic. Ones that really bring you to the past and make you think about your childhood. Or even the feeling of simplicity of a story about good versus evil that doesn’t feel complicated or trying to do too much. More about focusing on the journey and the fun aspect of it all. Kung Fu Deadly, directed by Fergel Costello, is one of those movies that feels like the old-school ’90s shows that I grew up with. I kept on thinking about how it reminds me of Buffy The Vampire Slayer mixed in with Power Rangers. Kung Fu Deadly punches me with these nostalgic feelings that just put a smile on my face. The story is about two friends, Danny and Frank, who are exterminators that cross paths with the enigmatic Lien, a Taoist guardian hunting an ancient Chinese jiangshi in Dublin. With crazy fights, cool retro effects, and great costume designs, this movie teleports you into a different era. The movie never loses sight of what it is trying to accomplish and carries a consistent tone throughout. Steven He, who plays Danny, and Michael Tient, who plays Frank, are the perfect duo for this adventure. The movie really shows the power of friendship, finding who you are in the world, and dealing with your past. Kung Fu Deadly is one of those movies that you will never forget how it made you feel— happy and joyful.

There are a lot of great creative aspects when it comes to Kung Fu Deadly. One of the coolest things this movie does is tell the ancient stories in this beautifully crafted art style. Every time it happened, it blew my mind. An art style that truly makes the story pop to life and gives us, the audience members, exposition in a cool way. The action is killer. Very well-crafted stunt work and choreography. You can tell that there was probably a lot of intense training that had to happen before the camera even started rolling. The Kung Fu figthing style looked super badass, and each fight sequence brought something new to the movie. Seeing the characters progress with their story arc and continue to enhance themselves was a real treat to watch. What makes this movie work is the dynamic with all the characters. The dialogue never felt scripted and truly felt authentic. It is easy to believe that the two main characters are best friends who will be there for each other. In big ways and small ways, the movie shows their love for each other. An easy way to have us invested in their characters and us wanting them to succeed in their journey. I would easily watch more of their adventures. With strong characters, lived-in backstories, and true moments of character arc, the movie shows us that we have the power within ourselves to accomplish anything, especially with others by our side.

The visuals, makeup, and costume designs were perfect. Every special effect felt nostalgic of the 90’s and it never strayed away from that. Working with a small budget is often a struggle when making a movie. With those constraints, though, it allows the filmmaker to work with that budget in creative ways. Having these special visual effects in this movie really worked well for the story and plot that they were going for. It is very much like watching one of those old tv shows from the ’90s. Although not perfect in the sense of it looking ultra-realistic, it plays with its visuals in a way that feels fun. The costume work and practical effects looked amazing. Everybody looked great and had great designs. I cannot tell you how much I loved the way this movie looked. With all of the visuals, we get some great comedic sequences as well. There are funny one-liners, a dance sequence, and moments that were just over-the-top ridiculous. All in the best way possible. I could not tell what was about to happen next because scene after scene it was filled with a ton of surprises. There are moments that I truly was flabbergasted by what I was watching. Especially the dance and singing scene, which will forever be a highlight living rent-free in my head. Kung Fu Deadly is filled with great visuals, storytelling, and moments that will have your mind blown. Everybody in this cast and crew knew the assignment and executed it with precision.

Overall, Kung Fu Deadly is a film that will make you smile and feel nostalgic. There’s also a powerful story within it, that will resonate with a lot of people. It dives into themes of friendship and even grief at times. It never has a dull moment and will have you wanting more by the end of it. There was even a moment that almost got me to tear up at the end. This is a good feel-good movie, and we need more of those in the world. It’s a movie that you want to watch with your best friend and be like “look, that’s us.” The world can be a dark place and has many obstacles that you have to go through. This movie teaches you that you can accomplish everything you want to and that you don’t have to do things alone. Your support group is just as important, and the valuable lesson of being there for each other. Fergal Costello made something special with Kung Fu Deadly. I do think it is a movie that is filled with a ton of fun and good messages that people can benefit from. Make sure you look out for this movie, as it is one that you do not want to miss.

Rating: 88/100