''It's The Only Way To Survive''

Crippled Avengers -1978

Spring of Shaw Season Review – Film 5

The Crippled Avengers - 1978

The Venoms are here, yes, as promised; our next review features the great Venoms group. Here we have a classic I saw at an event years ago: The Crippled Avengers (released as ''Return of the Five Deadly Venoms '' in the USA ) is one of the finest Kung Fu films of the 70s.

Combining brotherhood, honour, and perseverance amongst adverse circumstances.

The film not only stars the Venoms but also one of the all-time greats of Shaw Brothers, Chen Kuan Tai.

Chen Kuan Tai plays Dao Tian-Du, a respected and honourable man and the leader of the Black Tigers. But when he returns home to find his wife and son mutilated by thugs, he exacts his revenge the only way he can.

Unfortunate for Dao Tian, his wife dies, having lost so much blood, but his son Dao Chang survives even though he has had his arms cut off at the elbow

Dao Tian promises his son that he will get him new arms. Fast-forwarding some years, Dao Chang, who now has his umpteenth set of arms, receives his latest pair. Now a full-grown man, Dao Chang ( Lu Feng) has arms made of Iron which can unleash a deadly blow.

Also, unfortunately, Dao Tian has become mean over the years and trusts very few. He uses his son to great effect to run the local region, often putting fear in people’s minds.

But when outspoken Blacksmith Wei ( Lo Mang) speaks out about the Dao family bullying people, it seems he may be biting more than he can chew.

The same goes for a local wanderer and a local citizen who accidentally bumps into Dao Chang in the street.

Each of our law-abiding citizens is punished with no care or concern, even when a stranger who comes to town sees the inflicted trio and tries to help them by confronting Dao Tian; he, in turn, comes up against the torture inflicted by the Dao family on so many.

Though at first it may seem like Chang Cheh is having a laugh here, mainly due to the injuries sustained by our hapless group. What it encompasses is how, even in tough times, if people band together, they can fight evil.

Though Blinded, decapitated, made mute, and driven crazy, our four friends head off to take back their crazy friend Yuan Yi back to his master, Li Jing Ying, who, upon hearing the plight of the four, offers to train them in Kung Fu so that they may take revenge.

By working to highlight the senses they have left, Master Ying hopes to make each a formidable foe. Though, of course, Master Ying's own student Yuan is a master in Kung Fu anyway, he's just crazy now and at times can be a hindrance to the others through his childish behaviour.

Of course, the fun comes when the four return to take revenge on the Dao family at the birthday of Dao Tian.

But Dao Tian's right-hand man, Wang, hopes to scupper the cripples’ revenge before his master finds out.

What we have here is some of the finest fight action committed to celluloid; the Venoms made so many films, and in each they performed feats of amazement.

Their artistry and acrobatic ability continue to amaze me years after viewing their films. With each viewing, you notice another technique or combination that seems impossible, but you know it's real; no camera tricks here.

This is pure hardcore Kung Fu, with scenes shot for as long as they could be and a wide camera angle showing all of the action from the initiation of a move to the completion of it, which often leaves you in awe of what you have just seen.

Shaw Brothers Legend Chen Kuan Tai lends his mastery and prowess to the scene and busts some shapes that will blow your mind.

The Venoms unleash some crazy moves, from cartwheels whilst another somersaults over the cartwheeler while jumping through a steel hoop; scenes like this crop up one after another and just keep you wanting more, more, more.

There are many great films from the Shaw Brothers, but if you fail to watch the Crippled Avengers your missing one of the all-time greats. It’s crazy, but Crippled Avengers is fun, light-hearted yet sinister and compelling, and all within the space of five minutes.

To sum up

Crippled Avengers should be prescribed on the NHS, as it's just what the Doctor ordered.

Review Date: April 28th 2014

Reviewed By: Sertes Nake

Review Updated September 2026