Blood Hands is a Filipino action flick that one can easily poke fun at. Still, there is certain sense of sincerity in the actions of characters and in the dialogs, even if some of the lines pronounced in the movie are funny as hell. Steve, a young talented kickboxer (played by Sean Donahue) is on his way home to celebrate his birthday. Meanwhile, a bunch of villains, who happen to be (along with every secondary character in this movie) trained kickboxers, cause a disturbance in a grocery store, kill the owner during a fight and then stop by at the house of Steve's parents. The leader of the bunch used to date Steve's mother and this good woman, unaware of any kind of danger, lets the villains in when they ask for some water for the overheated motor of their car. As soon as the scoundrels enter the house, their leader starts to make advances to Steve's mother, who naturally rejects him, saying she's a married woman now. This leads to a violent confrontation, and when Steve's father returns home with a birthday cake, another kickbox fight ensues. Although Steve's old man knows a lot about martial arts, he is outnumbered, severely beaten and thrown through a glass door. His wife receives similar treatment for her lack of cooperation with the thugs. Steve arrives at the scene a few minutes later. First, he discovers his birthday cake splattered on the ground, then the bodies of his parents. Steve is quite understandably embittered and angry. The matters are further complicated by the fact that one of the thugs left a golden medallion from a kickbox championship at the scene of crime. Since it could serve as an important piece of evidence, the owner of the medallion has to go back to the house of Steve's parents with one of his pals. During this expedition, the thugs encounter a detective investigating the case, beat the hell out of him a finally smash his cranium in the swimming pool by the house. After the police proved to be inefficient, Steve decides to take justice in his hands and he starts his own investigation. Thanks to the medallion that was found by his girlfriend, he is able to track down the murderers of his parents and make them pay for their crime, one by one... Apart from plentiful action scenes, often taking place in various industrial settings, there are many amusing moments in this movie, especially when the leader of the gang of kickboxing thugs explains to his cronies why it was necessary to finish off someone every time they kick the living soul out of some unfortunate individual. The dialog between Steve and his girlfriend, who tries to prevent Steve from taking revenge on the culprits and "getting blood on his hands", is highly amusing as well. The famous speech of Bruce,who happens to be the son of one of the villains and who wishes to give up his kickboxing career (because he always gets his butt kicked by Steve), was already mentioned in the previous comment. Blood Hands is a simple movie with enough displays of martial arts to keep the fans of Filipino action flicks, especially those from the distinguished production company Silver Star, entertained.
5 Reviews
"Re-al-ah-taye!"
bcalj10 October 2005
From Top to Bottom, one of the best ever! 'Blood Hands' is masterpiece of film making, and a truly great movie.
'Blood Hands' is a film which puts reality first, and chooses not to live in a fantastic world of simple brutality, unlike other martial arts films produced by less visionary talents. This film exists in the here and now, with only the present as it's guide, and as it's bible to the world around us. We learn about kick boxing as it really is; and are taught that vengeance will always have its price.
We see the reality of violence, and are warned of its nature. Yes, this tale is a complex morality piece, and one that exposes hidden truths within us all. We see how perpetrators of heinous acts can be undone, and how justice will provably.
We see, reassuringly so, that the institutions that bind our society together, also bind the world of 'Blood,' keeping the film relevant to the public. One such institution is that of the police, and police work is the heart of this film. All central characters study clues, and do their best to find the killers of a kindly foster-child raising couple, and an angry supermarket owner. As everyone knows the only real clue to any serious murder would be a gaudy, and somewhat campy object left by the killers at the scene. They leave such fantasy crime fighting devices as eyewitness accounts, fingerprints, and DNA-testing behind. These count for nothing in the real world.
As well as being beautifully atmospheric and incredibly realistic, we also see a technically well made film. The dialogue and acting stand out, with a super grasp of both fundamentals being displayed upon screen. With supreme acting talent on show, including such stand-outs as star Sean Donahue leading the charge, not too mention a dynamite script, one with a real message, so we feel for the characters. We realise that this is more than just a movie. This film is showing us a way of life.
Morality, with an emphasis on the youth of today, is given the highest degree importance. Young people now know that "vio-lence is a re-al-ah-taye of our lives." Such lessons are missing from today's pictures, and this one is superbly delivered to the audience.
'Blood Hands' is a film of love and openness. There is a most touching coming out scene where a young man named Bruce hollers to his evil father that he wants to just be himself, "I just wanna be Bruce! I just wanna be Bruce!" We feel for him, and his character is shown to survive the events depicted vividly on screen, despite his mullet, and the many severe beatings he takes. He can live, as he renounced evil, and walked toward the light. Again, such moral messages are left behind in martial arts film of today. 'Blood' is about The Love.
'Blood Hands' raises the bar and lets you into the world of danger associated with top level kick boxing, and lets you love it's characters. Could this be the definitive martial arts film of our time?
'Blood Hands' is a film which puts reality first, and chooses not to live in a fantastic world of simple brutality, unlike other martial arts films produced by less visionary talents. This film exists in the here and now, with only the present as it's guide, and as it's bible to the world around us. We learn about kick boxing as it really is; and are taught that vengeance will always have its price.
We see the reality of violence, and are warned of its nature. Yes, this tale is a complex morality piece, and one that exposes hidden truths within us all. We see how perpetrators of heinous acts can be undone, and how justice will provably.
We see, reassuringly so, that the institutions that bind our society together, also bind the world of 'Blood,' keeping the film relevant to the public. One such institution is that of the police, and police work is the heart of this film. All central characters study clues, and do their best to find the killers of a kindly foster-child raising couple, and an angry supermarket owner. As everyone knows the only real clue to any serious murder would be a gaudy, and somewhat campy object left by the killers at the scene. They leave such fantasy crime fighting devices as eyewitness accounts, fingerprints, and DNA-testing behind. These count for nothing in the real world.
As well as being beautifully atmospheric and incredibly realistic, we also see a technically well made film. The dialogue and acting stand out, with a super grasp of both fundamentals being displayed upon screen. With supreme acting talent on show, including such stand-outs as star Sean Donahue leading the charge, not too mention a dynamite script, one with a real message, so we feel for the characters. We realise that this is more than just a movie. This film is showing us a way of life.
Morality, with an emphasis on the youth of today, is given the highest degree importance. Young people now know that "vio-lence is a re-al-ah-taye of our lives." Such lessons are missing from today's pictures, and this one is superbly delivered to the audience.
'Blood Hands' is a film of love and openness. There is a most touching coming out scene where a young man named Bruce hollers to his evil father that he wants to just be himself, "I just wanna be Bruce! I just wanna be Bruce!" We feel for him, and his character is shown to survive the events depicted vividly on screen, despite his mullet, and the many severe beatings he takes. He can live, as he renounced evil, and walked toward the light. Again, such moral messages are left behind in martial arts film of today. 'Blood' is about The Love.
'Blood Hands' raises the bar and lets you into the world of danger associated with top level kick boxing, and lets you love it's characters. Could this be the definitive martial arts film of our time?
Just...what??
hbeeinc26 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I came into this about 10mins in right when they made their first kill and the classic, "HE'S NOT BREATHING, MAAAAAAN!!" Oh, you boys! I guess it's always fun until someone loses and eye...or their life. They bicker about who dealt the death blow since, I suppose, that even when you're all beating the crap out of someone, the actual death only belongs to one person. Next, they jump into a car that breaks down and need water for the radiator. Whaddya know! One of the guys knows the wife and husband who live there! What would YOU do if you were on the run from Johnny Law? Try to rape the wife, right? DUH! Just their luck the husband comes and, oops, they kill both of them. And I swear that one of them says, "SHE'S NOT BREATHING, MAAAAAAAAN." Bad fight, bad fight. Bad fight...and the bad guys win in the end. JK.
This movie isn't one dimensional it half-dimensional. This isn't even up to a 80's Thailand war picture.
The only saving grace of this picture is that music completely overpowers most of the dialog so you don't haver to listen to how badly it's written and how miserable the acting is.
This movie isn't one dimensional it half-dimensional. This isn't even up to a 80's Thailand war picture.
The only saving grace of this picture is that music completely overpowers most of the dialog so you don't haver to listen to how badly it's written and how miserable the acting is.
Any fans of Sean Donahue, lots of punching and kicking, and/or silliness are encouraged to check it out.
tarbosh2200021 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
A gang of aging ne'er-do-wells decide to get drunk and cause a ruckus at the grocery store. In the midst of their raucous tomfoolery, a fight ensues and the owner of the store dies. The guys, who are, apparently, known in the world of kickboxing, then drive over to fellow kickboxer Steve Callahan (Donahue)'s house. The lead baddie, James Clavell (Hourani) - who evidently is not the author of Shogun - begins assaulting Edward Callahan (Nicholson) and his wife while Steve is off training. This event ends in tragedy. When Steve and his girlfriend Tracy (Landson) come home, they see what the gang of MAP's (Middle-Aged Punks) did and Steve is understandably upset.
Steve's only clue is a medallion given to kickboxing champs in the area, so he goes it alone on his quest for justice after the main investigator on the case is himself attacked by the MAP's. Even Steve's beloved coach, Mr. Gale - who is a dead ringer for Freddy Mercury - isn't safe from the gang's rampage. With revenge on his mind and BLOOD on his HANDS, Steve Callahan must snap into action. With his fists and his feet as his only weaponry, will Steve beat the baddies and win the day? Find out today!
In the U.S., Blood Hands is one of the rarest Teddy Page movies, so we were lucky to see it. It does indeed have that Page-esque silly charm and is certainly entertaining. It's pretty impressive how they were able to make a 90-minute movie of people punching and kicking each other (that's what takes up most of the running time). Thankfully, the noises the punch/kick hits make are enjoyable enough in their own right. It's impossible to describe the sound, but needless to say that in real life a fist or a foot striking another human being doesn't sound like Mario bumping a box with a question mark on it with his head.
So there's lots of action, a great training sequence towards the end, and a cast of Philippines-shot movie regulars such as Jim Gaines, Nick Nicholson, and Ned Hourani, who here is inexplicably credited as Nead Hourani. That's right, NEAD. Could that a typo? In any event, the star of the show is, of course, Sean Donahue, our old buddy from Parole Violators (1994). His classic acting and fighting styles are on display, and you have to love his energy and determination.
Known in Germany as KICKBOX TERMINATOR, which is a fantastic title, Blood Hands is indeed rare but any fans of Teddy Page, Sean Donahue, lots of punching and kicking, and/or silliness are encouraged to check it out.
Steve's only clue is a medallion given to kickboxing champs in the area, so he goes it alone on his quest for justice after the main investigator on the case is himself attacked by the MAP's. Even Steve's beloved coach, Mr. Gale - who is a dead ringer for Freddy Mercury - isn't safe from the gang's rampage. With revenge on his mind and BLOOD on his HANDS, Steve Callahan must snap into action. With his fists and his feet as his only weaponry, will Steve beat the baddies and win the day? Find out today!
In the U.S., Blood Hands is one of the rarest Teddy Page movies, so we were lucky to see it. It does indeed have that Page-esque silly charm and is certainly entertaining. It's pretty impressive how they were able to make a 90-minute movie of people punching and kicking each other (that's what takes up most of the running time). Thankfully, the noises the punch/kick hits make are enjoyable enough in their own right. It's impossible to describe the sound, but needless to say that in real life a fist or a foot striking another human being doesn't sound like Mario bumping a box with a question mark on it with his head.
So there's lots of action, a great training sequence towards the end, and a cast of Philippines-shot movie regulars such as Jim Gaines, Nick Nicholson, and Ned Hourani, who here is inexplicably credited as Nead Hourani. That's right, NEAD. Could that a typo? In any event, the star of the show is, of course, Sean Donahue, our old buddy from Parole Violators (1994). His classic acting and fighting styles are on display, and you have to love his energy and determination.
Known in Germany as KICKBOX TERMINATOR, which is a fantastic title, Blood Hands is indeed rare but any fans of Teddy Page, Sean Donahue, lots of punching and kicking, and/or silliness are encouraged to check it out.
'A joyous body-rocking blast from VHS video's historical past, 'Blood Hands' is a fistful of dullards!
Weirdling_Wolf2 March 2021
Beloved by trash movie cultists the world over, the hugely prolific Filipino action madman, Teddy 'Blood Debt' Page rewardingly teams up with the no less hard-hitting kickboxing star, Sean Donahue and their combined iconoclastic force unleashes a schlocky knock-out blow of non-stop Kickboxing mayhem for rabid action fans! A joyously unhinged, solar plexus pulverising, ribcage-wrecking, bloody-knuckled blast from VHS video's historically head-knocking past, 'Blood Hands' is still feistier than a fridgeful of hornets!
After four especially unsavoury, diabolically drunken skells escalate a spontaneous alcohol binge into Kickboxing-infused ultra-violence, that, not unexpectedly, culminates gruesomely with the bloody deaths of pretty much everyone outside of big, Steve (Sean Donahue) and his pristine looking, bodaciously boff-able beau Tracy (Kristin Landson). With the sharp astringency of merciless street justice in the air, it is not long before the unforgiving wheels of Kickboxing retribution spin to their inexorable conclusion, with Steve brutally 'kicking' the errant bottom of crime faster than the lugubrious, flat-footed mechanism of the law!
A bizarrely brief power/training montage heroically hones our righteously vengeful hero, Steve into a deadly intense, iron-girded master of squat-bodied, close quartered death! Steeled for war, Steve luridly cuts a hot crimson swathe through the sports casual clad villains that have done him and his family such monstrous harm. 'Blood Hands' delivers a more than zesty homage to 'Game of Death' that bloodily rounds the hyperbolic punch-fighting proceedings off with a spectacularly spine-shattering climax! With a gonzo, Teddy Page B-Actioner you are guaranteed hectic, rewardingly unrefined fight scenes with no nasty plot shenanigans to soften the hardcore bludgeoning! Just the way god intended!
'So long, Champ!'
After four especially unsavoury, diabolically drunken skells escalate a spontaneous alcohol binge into Kickboxing-infused ultra-violence, that, not unexpectedly, culminates gruesomely with the bloody deaths of pretty much everyone outside of big, Steve (Sean Donahue) and his pristine looking, bodaciously boff-able beau Tracy (Kristin Landson). With the sharp astringency of merciless street justice in the air, it is not long before the unforgiving wheels of Kickboxing retribution spin to their inexorable conclusion, with Steve brutally 'kicking' the errant bottom of crime faster than the lugubrious, flat-footed mechanism of the law!
A bizarrely brief power/training montage heroically hones our righteously vengeful hero, Steve into a deadly intense, iron-girded master of squat-bodied, close quartered death! Steeled for war, Steve luridly cuts a hot crimson swathe through the sports casual clad villains that have done him and his family such monstrous harm. 'Blood Hands' delivers a more than zesty homage to 'Game of Death' that bloodily rounds the hyperbolic punch-fighting proceedings off with a spectacularly spine-shattering climax! With a gonzo, Teddy Page B-Actioner you are guaranteed hectic, rewardingly unrefined fight scenes with no nasty plot shenanigans to soften the hardcore bludgeoning! Just the way god intended!
'So long, Champ!'
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