In which the five venoms return to save China from mass-starvation as ruthless thugs take over the land, leaving thousands of refugees in their wake!
Directed by Chang Cheh and featuring explosive fight sequences throughout, The Rebel Intruders presents viewers with a slight change of pace as China, split apart by civil war, has only thug-minded generals and their security forces for law. And it’s not very fair at all. With refugees flooding in, Chen Chu-kwong (Lu Feng) sends his very best men - Pan Peng (Wong Lik), Chang Hsiao-hu (Yang Hsiung), and Tang Yu-tung (Sun Chien) - to try and bring some sort of order to all areas but the South, which he will handle.
Unfortunately, their rule is by any means necessary and these dudes - focusing on brothels and other locations - have the wrong mindset when it comes to governing, beating the poor and framing others for their own murderous mistakes.
But Black Tiger practitioner Wang Hsu (Philip Kwok), Northern Mantis practitioner Chi Chun-peng (Lo Mang), and Yu Wen-san (Chiang Sheng) aren’t going to take their insanity for very long. After meeting by circumstance and sizing each other up (in a great fight sequence), these warriors decide to become blood brothers and fight against the rulers.
Co-starring Choh Seung-wan, The Rebel Intruders is a classic tale of morality and brotherhood. It is also quite humorous as the chemistry between the three leads is contagious, mixing the very best of fight skills with some deadpan moments of true humor. The action is fast and deadly and the drama is well-executed, even if it dries up from time to time in between some of the chop socky action.
This is a very bloody affair and Cheh, never one to back down from violence, delivers with lots of blood and guts! There are a couple of classic moments, too, especially when some of the acrobatics on display spray blood all over the faces of their enemies and some once pure-white flags.
The film, while long out of print, is now available on Shout Factory’s brand-new Shaw Brothers Classics, Vol 4. This set includes another 12 classic martial arts films from the famous Shaw Brothers' library and features some of their greatest stars including The Five Deadly Venom’s Phillip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, and Lo Meng and A Better Tomorrow's Derek Yee and Ti Lung. Many of these visually spectacular films are debuting for the first time on Blu-ray.
Fight for the revolutionary army with this release!
Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray - December 19, 2023
Screen Formats: 2.35:1
Subtitles: English
Audio: Mandarin: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
Video: MPEG-4 AVC
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; 12-discset
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A
The "Venoms" are back in action again! After creating an international sensation in The Five Venoms, Taiwanese Opera artists Phillip Kwok, Chiang Sheng and Lu Feng reteamed with Chinese muscleman Lo Meng and super-kicker Sun Chien for this politically charged thriller. Set in the early Republican years, The Rebel Intruders follows skilled refugees who run afoul of a powerful traitor. From then on, it's one amazing battle after another!
Video
Presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, The Rebel Intruders is beautifully presented on 1080p from Shout Factory. Interiors are strong. Colors pop throughout, but it is the blood effects - burning bright in the transfer - which seal the deal on this one. It’s full of great atmosphere thanks to the quick-footed script and looks visually eye-popping due to the 1080- upgrade. Black levels are strong throughout, bringing out nice details in both the loud and quiet moments of this epic adventure. The tracking shots are glorious to behold in 1080p. Blacks are solid and shadows maintain their lines. Even the costumes are noted stitch by stitch.
Audio
Fans of the genre get uncompressed Mandarin and English original mono tracks, plus Cantonese mono for the film.
Supplements:
Get ready to duel to the death with these supplemental items!
Commentary:
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See Special Features for the breakdown.
Special Features:
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NEW Audio Commentary With Film Historian Brian Bankston
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Original Theatrical Trailer
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Composite Blu-ray Grade
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MPAA Rating: 9
Runtime: 99 mins
Director: Cheh Chang
Writer: Cheh Chang; Kuang Ni
Cast: Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok; Meng Lo; Sheng Chiang
Genre: Action | Drama
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor: Shaw Brothers
Official Site:
Release Date: September 10, 1980 (Hong Kong)
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: December 19, 2023
Synopsis: Three refugees become sworn brothers during a war. One (Kuo Chui/Philip Kwok) works in a whore house, one (Chiang Sheng) in a gambling house, and the other (Lo Mang) in a martial arts school. They become embroiled in the war and are betrayed by one's mentor.
