Bloodmoon (1997) - A Review

 

Not a very accurate representation of what the movie's about...

Bloodmoon is an American/Hong Kong action/martial arts movie released in 1997. It stars Gary Daniels, Chuck Jeffreys, Darren Shahlavi, Frank Gorshin, Brandie Rocci, Nina Repeta, Rob Vam Dam, and Hakim Alston. The movie was directed and choreographed by Tony Leung-Siu Hung.

In Bloodmoon, Chuck Jeffreys plays Chuck Baker, a detective who is also a martial artist and a magician, working on a possible serial killer case. The Killer (played by Darren Shahlavi) is fighting his victims, then killing them with his metal prosthetic index and middle finger. Chuck is getting nowhere near solving the case, so his boss, Chief Hutchins (played by Frank Gorshin) tells to him to get help with the case from a former detective who specialized in serial killers, Ken O'Hara (played by Gary Daniels). Ken is going through a divorce and is suffering from flashbacks of his last case. 

Chuck and Ken's first meeting does not go well. Ken does not want to help Chuck with his case, and does not want to go through tracking a serial killer again. Ken changes his mind when his martial arts master is killed. At the crime scene (where Chuck was almost killed in an explosion when trying to save Ken's master), Chuck and Ken get into a fight, not knowing who they are fighting. Ken's niece, Kelly (played by  Brandie Rocci), who is also Ken's master's adopted daughter, stops them. Chuck and Ken finally get on the same page, with Kelly insisting on helping them as well.

Eventually, Chuck and Ken figure out the connection between the victims and The Killer, and they figure out that Kelly is next! Things go from bad to worse as the The Killer makes things personal between him and Ken. Now Ken has to fight to save the people he loves, within a time limit!

Chuck Jeffreys and Gary Daniels make quite the team in this!

I first watched this movie during my high school years, and I watched it a lot! I loved this movie so much back then, and it was great to see this again after such a long time. I liked the dynamic between Chuck and Ken. Chuck is the charismatic, tough, confident, and funny cop. Ken is the quiet, respectful, and traumatized ex-cop. They are both expert martial artists. Usually in Hollywood movies, only one character in a police duo is the martial artist. It's great to see both of them strut their stuff as martial artists in this movie. Chuck Jeffreys is funny in this, but he is a bit of a jerk to Gary Daniels at first. Chuck and Ken have a nice bonding moment, though. Gary Daniels plays Ken as a man who is troubled by his past, but is trying to get through life. He loves his daughter and wife, but his last case basically tore his family apart. 

All I can say is, Chuck Jeffreys and Gary Daniels rule in this!

Darren Shahlavi as The Killer is absolutely unstoppable!

Darren Shahlavi as The Killer is a fighting machine in this movie! He just destroys his victims! He handles Hakim Alston (who you've seen in Mortal Kombat and WMAC Masters) and Rob Van Dam with ease. He takes on Chuck, Ken, and Kelly at the same time and just wrecks them! This was the first movie I saw Darren in, and I've been a fan since then. You may also know Darren Shahlavi from Ip Man 2, where he played that racist-a** boxer. Darren plays The Killer as supremely confident, with a bit of flair. He was the perfect choice for this role!

The fight scenes in Bloodmoon are so good!

Bloodmoon has some great fight scenes! Tony Leung Siu-Hung is a great choreographer, and his Hong Kong style fight scenes rock in this. My favorite fight scenes all take place in an apartment. Chuck and Ken's accidental barging in on a gang's hideout, and then Chuck, Ken, and Kelly taking on The Killer. Great stuff. The Chuck, Ken, and Kelly vs. The Killer fight is one of my all-time favorite fight scenes. I used to re-watch that fight all the time! The final fight between Ken and The Killer is great as well. All of the fight scenes are fun in their own way. In the fight between The Killer and Rob Van Dam, you see RVD use a headlock and a dropkick in the fight! Kelly gets a fight scene of her own in a gentleman's club. You have to see these fights for yourself. It is too bad fights like these weren't in mainstream movies back then...or even now.

I highly recommend Bloodmoon! The serial killer aspect actually reminded me of Seven (though not as dark) a bit. There is even a chase through an apartment building in this (like in Seven)! Yes, it is kind of dated. The internet and hacking stuff is a bit...90s. The hacker is hilarious, though! If anything, watch this movie for the fights. They are worth the price of admission! Seasonal Films made another classic with this one!

Reviewed by David Williams