DAY OF THE PANTHER (1987) - Grinning Kung Foolery.

 

Directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith

Screenplay by Peter West

Starring -  Edward John Stazak as Jason Blade, John Stanton as William Anderson, James Richards as Jim Baker, Michael Carmen as Damien Zukor, Paris Jefferson as Gemma Anderson, Linda Megier as Linda Anderson 

PLOT  - Jason Blade and his partner Linda are members of a law enforcement agency/Martial arts sect  called the Panthers . They are investigating the activities of international drug trafficker Damien Zukor. When Linda is murdered by members of Zukor's gang, led by his henchman - Baxter - Blade vows to avenge her death. With the help of Linda's father - William - and her cousin - Gemma  - Blade goes undercover and infiltrates Zukor's gang, however his cover is blown and the fight for survival and vengeance begins.....

CLASSIC DIALOUGE - Baxter ( whilst trying to interrogate Gemma ) "Don't give me any bullshit about not knowing Blade, you probably give him a regular piece of that hot little arse of yours."

Zukor ( After just hiring Blade into his gang ) - " Blade- you're sharp. "

Zukor ( feeling randy ) - " You'll have to excuse me - I'm off to get laid."

PERFORMANCES - Edward John Stazak as Jason Blade - Stazak was an 80's Australian martial artist. Day of the Panther along with its sequel, Strike of the Panther, with which it was filmed back to back, where intended as vehicles to launch Stazak 's career as an action movie star along the lines of Van Damme etc., however this didn't really work out so well for him and he slid into obscurity. On the strength of this film it's not difficult to see why. 

He's certainly a good Martial artist and the fight scenes in the movie are wonderfully choreographed. He also manages something that seems very difficult to do in the cold light of day of the 2020's and that's pull off wearing 80's fashions without looking like he's just done a smash and grab raid on a charity shop.

 Also, he's got charisma and is quite funny - both intentionally ( like in the scene where he karate kicks a car park attendant in the bollocks for telling him "you can't park here" - admit it - we've all wanted to do it at some point), and also unintentionally.  I think it's the "unintentionally" that scuppered his bid for stardom in the end. 

The main problem is the man just can't stop grinning. Like this...

Or, indeed, like this....

Or even....like this....

Whatever the situation, whether he's kicking the living shit out of a crime boss, having loaded guns waved at him or swearing righteous vengeance, he's always got that smug, shit-eating grin plastered all over his boat race. I've never seen a man look so happy to be avenging the tragic, untimely death of his best friend. After pretty much every single line he delivers onscreen his face scrunches up into this selfsame cocky, insincere grin. Even when he's bleeding and in pain he looks inordinately pleased with himself....

Or at the very least like he's in the midst of doing a big, satisfying dump. Seriously, If you where to base a drinking game on how many times Blade cracks a grin, your Liver would look like it had been machine gunned at close range once the movie ended. Still, you can't deny that he's entertaining to watch, so that's one thing I suppose...

Michael Carmen as Damien Zukor  - Carmen gives a good performance even if he does look like Nicholas Cage if he was suffering from late stage AIDS. Seriously - the man looks like he's never allowed food to pass his lips once in his entire life. However this gaunt, unhealthyness does add to his sinister vibe and its quite a restrained, subtle performance; at least compared to everybody else onscreen. 

Zukor's evil henchman- Baxter (James Richards) - is a much less refined villain, decked out in a ridiculously 80's wardrobe of shiny suits and clashing pastel colours. There's nothing subtle about this man as he barges into every scene he's in - scowling and spitting hatred at everybody he encounters (beats smiling continually I suppose). He has a really good end battle with Blade, he even manages to whipe that grin off his face a few times. Really, even though he's just the right hand man, he's actually much more like the main villain than Zukor himself is.

A final mention must go to Paris Jefferson as Gemma. She doesn't really do much except try to seduce Blade by dancing at him. If aerobics was ever meant to be in any way, shape or form an erotic artform then she certainly tries her best. The 80's - it was a different world back then....

SFX -Not a lot of call for sfx in a film like this - no monsters or aliens you see. I suppose the actors martial arts skills are sfx in their own right.  Other than that theres a dab of fake blood here and there, a couple of fake bruises and thats your lot.

SEX AND VIOLENCE - Bad aerobic sex dances and some excellent fight scenes abound. Linda's death scene is a highlight as she takes on - and beats - three gang members  wearing cheap rubber Halloween fright masks only to be bumped off by Baxter wearing a suit so shiny it practically blinds you.

RATING - This Ozploitation beat 'em up is a lot of fun. I'm going to give it 3 and a half perma-grinning Ninja death machines out of 5.