| Bilgi : The typical kung fu revenge plot gets a 'contemporary' and adult treatment when Chan Ping assumes the role of a rape victim out to neuter her attackers with a knife, pickaxe, or anything else she can get her hands on. The Kiss of Death is an exploitive category III film that initially revels in showing Chan in compromising situations, while ultimately showing her convincingly evolve from a frightened victim to a relentless man killer. The film's adult material is not explicit, but is quite racy for 1973 and possibly even more so now for its political incorrectness. It will no doubt be offensive to sensitive viewers. It should also go without saying that this one is definitely not for the kiddies.
The Kiss of Death was Taiwanese actress Chan Ping's first film with Shaw Brothers and immediately established her as a screen sex symbol. With a few notable exceptions, she would spend most of her eight-year film career starring in sexploitation films like Illicit Desire (1973) and The Girlie Bar (1976). Scribe Yau Gong-kin's tale of rape and revenge was clearly meant to cash in on two of the most popular attractions for filmgoers, violence and sex. But Chan's performance is exceedingly good in what would undoubtedly be a throwaway role with lesser talent.
Chan plays a 21-year old factory worker, who on her way home one night is chased by five men up to a rooftop where she is cornered and raped. She survives the painful encounter, but discovers that she now has a potentially lethal sexually transmitted disease as a result. After following a man (Simon Yuen) who she believes to be one of the attackers into a nightclub, she witnesses the owner's competent fighting skills, in spite of having a gimpy leg. Under the pretense of needing work, Chan is hired by Lo Lieh and she eventually convinces him to train her so that she can get revenge. Not surprisingly, the two fall in love, but Chan keeps the relationship mostly platonic for obvious reasons. Eventually, one of the attackers (Kong Do) walks into the club. Chan convinces Kong Do to take her out for a date and she puts her training to use focusing on the weakest point of a man's anatomy. Ironically, this proves to be the ultimate revenge for the crime committed against her. Thus begins a campaign of bloody violence as Chan learns the whereabouts of the remaining men. Along the way, the thugs attempt to kill her first and her roommate teaches Chan the art of tossing razor-edged playing cards. A final showdown takes place in a private casino where Chan walks into a trap and Lo Lieh races to help her before it is too late. |
