Trommelfeuer für vier Fäuste

After Lucio Fulci's adaptation of the Jack London novel WHITE FANG proved a surprising hit with Italian audiences, a slew of sequels - official and otherwise - followed suit. WHITE FANG AND THE GOLD DIGGERS is one of the unofficial ones, helmed by cult director Alfonso Brescia, a guy who seems unable to direct a film convincingly.

And, it has to be said, this film is a complete piece of nonsense. The loose plotting sees Fang (called Whiskey, at least in the English dub) and his owner staking a gold claim on a remote mountain, and then finding themselves harassed by a rich mine owner who doesn't shy away from committing murder to achieve his goals. What follows is a tumultuous adventure full of bar room brawls, henchmen getting beaten up, and dogs performing a few cute tricks here and there.

It's quite trash and amateurish in nature, with a lack of engaging characters and an entirely superficial feel to the action and storyline. The writers aren't afraid to throw in some more adult material - including a rape scene - but this feels very much like an inconsequential kid's film. Ignazio Spalla bags the best role of a friendly ally who goes around beating up villains just for the hell of it. The worst thing of all is an utterly annoying child character, a boy who's been dubbed with a woman's voice in the English version. Words can't express how irritating this kid is...