User reviews

Long unavailable on home vid, this was just one of the many projects that cult maestro Monte Hellman ghost-directed. So when the good folks at Roan decided to release this on LD, I jumped at the chance to get a copy. At forty bucks, it was worth it. But I had to order off the Dollar Menu for the rest of the week.

It was a long-held belief that Hellman only directed a small portion of the film before being sacked and replaced by producer Michael Carreras. But in the running commentary, Hellman, upon seeing the movie for the very first time, was surprised to see that at least 80% of the final cut is his.

Though no "Background to Danger," this is a very passable B-adventure, with Whitman a fine hero/foil. Whitman's Shatter is another in the long line of Hellman loner-man-on-the-outside-looking-in protagonists. The film also bears striking similarities with the long forgotten "Karate-the Hand of Death" (1961)about an American Karate expert returning to Japan after the war and runs afoul of some mob types. "Shatter" is a decent way to spend an hour and a half on a rainy afternoon, and a find for Monte Hellman completeists.

Collaborating for the second and final time, Hammer Studios and Shaw Brothers Studios again tap into the martial arts market for this watchable crime fiction that has the benefit of being filmed entirely in Hong Kong. Stuart Whitman ("The Mark") stars as the title character, a hitman who completes a job in Africa, assassinating a dictator. Then he goes to HK to collect payment from a weaselly banker named Hans Leber (Anton Diffring, "Circus of Horrors"), and of course the guy reneges on the deal. Shatter must take it on the lam, being unable to trust most people. However, he does receive crucial assistance from Kung Fu expert Tai Pah (Lung Ti) and masseuse Mai-Mee (Lily Li).

The story goes that this was a very troubled production, with Hammer producer and sometime director Michael Carreras ("The Lost Continent") stepping in to replace original director Monte Hellman, the American cult-favorite filmmaker who made such classics as "Two-Lane Blacktop" and "Cockfighter". This, after Hellman had already shot *at least* half of the picture. Given its problems, it's fortunate that the finished product manages to tell a reasonably coherent story, although it's required of special guest star Peter Cushing (wonderful as always) to utter quite a bit of exposition. Even then, Shatter doesn't know the whole story until the movie is almost over.

The action scenes are very well done, in any event, with Lung Ti showing off great athleticism and having a relaxed presence on screen. Whitman is fine as usual, Li is simply adorable, the great German actor Diffring is appropriately slimy, and Cushing remains a delight. Several Shaw Brothers players, Li and Lung Ti among them, have roles large and small. The movie is full of HK sights and sounds, possessing a very exotic appeal, and also has a jaunty score composed by David Lindup.

While not as invigorating as "The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires", this entertains its audience fairly well. Fans of both Hammer and the Shaw brothers will want to see it for curiosity's sake.

Six out of 10.

Kicking, shooting and beating aplenty in this Hammer/Shaw Brothers co-production starring Whitman as a hitman with a conscience. Not much here you haven't seen before, but Whitman is OK, the music is kinda funky and, while he doesn't have much screen time, it's always great to see Peter Cushing.

It seemed to have pretty low production values for a Hammer film.

The music was pretty good, but I imagine it's not original to film.

There were a few nice kung-fu fights, but nothing you couldn't find elsewhere.

Stuart's character seems to be somewhat clever at times and extremely dim at others.

Some of the locations were neat, but only in a documentary way (a look into 70's Hong Kong)

You probably won't hate it if you see it, but it's basically a low budget action film with not much to offer.

3/10

So shooting this might have been a mess (according to the people involved that is, as they tell us in the audio commentary), but it's still more than fun to watch. So it's Hammer and Shaw Brothers in connection. Actually as the filmmakers reveal Shaw Brothers gave Hammer permission to use their equipment and personell. Which wasn't exactly what they delivered.

Now this seems something to dig your teeth into and find out more about (I might do some further research myself on a later date), but what is fascinating, that the movie still kinda works. All the trials and tribulations, all the sticks and stones thrown into their way, everything that made it more difficult to complete the movie ... and still they got their movie done. And the fight scenes (with a Shaw Brothers regular to complete a rather odd couple -Stuart Whitmann and Tung Li that is) are quite something.

The movie overall has dated and you can feel this is from a different era ... but it is fun to watch and isn't that what it's about after all?

Stuart Whitman (Tender Flesh, Eaten Alive, the "Superboy" TV show) is Shatter, an international hit-man who goes into hiding when he carries out the assignment of killing an African general that he thought was given to him by someone that it wasn't. Now everyone is gunning for him and he just wants the money owed to him. I usually dig Hammer films quite a bit, however this is one I just couldn't get into. It's just way to slow and badly acted to keep my interest. It felt like it would have been made into a TV show if it did better than it wound up doing. No big loss either way, in my opinion.

Eye Candy: Some random Chinese girl shows T&A

My Grade: D+

DVD Extras: Commentary by Ousted director Monte Hellman & Actor Stuart WhitmanThe World of Hammer episode: "Chiller"; 2 TV spots; and Theatrical Trailer

Decent little Hammer film. Whitman is ideal as the world weary lead actor in this 70's Hong Kong set Kung Fu / Thriller. Ably assisted by Lily Li and Ti Lung, the fight scenes are very well done. Hammer veteran Peter Cushing has a side role as a shady character, all in all a film that could've been a lot worse with different actors.

The film begins with a rather nifty assassination by a top hired killer (Stuart Whitman). However, when he goes to collect his fee for this job, he's repeatedly attacked and learns that he supposedly bungled the job. However, it's very obvious there's a lot more to this and he's just a pawn--but can he discover the truth or will one of many, many hired goons put an end to his career...and life?!

While all this sounds very exciting and the film is set in Hong Kong with lots of martial arts action, it isn't particularly compelling. Too often the film just seems to meander and plot holes are filled in by lengthy expositions (a sloppy story telling technique). But the biggest problem for me is that Whitman just didn't make that interesting a character and he didn't seem very believable. Not a terrible film but certainly not a very good one--proving that Hammer Studios might have been much better off sticking with horror films and not venturing into this sort of genre. A time-passer at best.

Shatter (1974) was the second time Shaw Brothers and Hammer Films worked together. This time around the results are not as wild and as entertaining as their previous collaboration (The Seven Golden Vampires) but it's worth your while.

Stuart Whitman plays your stereotypical all American actor (a type of role that would later be defined by two other great actors Scott Glenn and Fred Ward). He stars as Shatter, man of many skills. Like all people of his ilk, he has completed a job and all parties want him. Like all movie professionals he runs into the same problems (i.e. reneged contract, can't trust anybody, etc.). Peter Cushing guest stars as an English Special Agent as well as several Shaw Brothers' players (Lily Lee as the love interest and Ti Lung as Shatter's protectorate). Throw in Wei Lo (staff director of the Shaws) in a cameo and bit parts from Fung Hark-On and Lee Hoi Sang and viola! You have Shatter! Despite the lack of an interesting action direction (like Liu Chia Hua) the fight scenes are above average and they aptly showcase Ti Lung's skills (it's a shame that he never made it big time, his English wasn't bad and he has charisma).

Fun for all, recommended for Hammer Films fans and Shaw Brothers marks.

Michael Carreras and Monte Hellman co-directed this crime/Kung Fu hybrid that stars Stuart Whitman as Shatter, an international hit man in Hong Kong who, after killing an African leader, finds himself double-crossed by his employers, and now forced to go on the run not only from them, but the police and the family of the African leader he killed. How can he survive this mess? Peter Cushing costars in a brief role. Perfectly awful film has nothing going for it; unappealing characters, uninteresting story, silly action scenes, and wastes Peter Cushing in his last film for Hammer studios. Only reason to watch this is if you're forced to buy the double-feature DVD for the other film!

An African dictator is assasinated by a secret serviceman unbeknownst that he was hired by a mob rather than his government. He goes to Hong Kong to collect his fee and finds that the mob, his own government, and the African nation are all after him. Stuart Whitman plays the very tired looking Mr. Shatter. He looks like Jack Riley playing Mr. Carlin on the Bob Newhart Show! He meets up with a couple kung fu fighters, one a young man who is the best fighter in Asia and the other a young girl who falls in love with Whitman's lack of charm and exhausted looks. The film has some great fight scenes and the young kung fu expert Lung Ti is an exceptional martial arts expert. Despite the film's obvious flaws, it is a pretty good action-thriller. The acting takes a back seat to the martial arts and the great scenery of a bustling Hong Kong. Peter Cushing has a small role as a British secret service agent and his cameo is the best thing in the film. The role gives Cushing a great part as a rather sadistic, sharp-tounged man with a great sense of ironic humour. He chews his lines with obvious relish(must have been happy he got the free trip to Hong Kong when he heard he was going to be billed below Stuart Whitman in a film named Shatter!). Whitman is also bested by Anton Diffring as the banker for the mob and Whitman's chief nemesis. Diffring had a way playing men of low moral character. Hammer worked with the Shaw Brothers(they produced numerous martial arts films) and came out with a pretty entertaining film. Though not nearly as exciting or innovative as The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires, Shatter still delivers some punch...and flying feet!

The other Hammer / Shaw Brothers collaboration, Shatter's conception predates The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires, as it was originally pitched as a Canadian co-production before being confined to a shelf for a few years and then resurrected as part of the collaboration deal. Rather than a period drama as both companies were used to producing, Shatter sees the action transported to contemporary Hong Kong and it's used to great effect, even if it amounts to nothing more than a lot of glorious eye candy. The film ran into many problems during production and this is evident in the finished product, the editing is off by a beat, it doesn't go anywhere very fast and isn't helped by a mediocre script. Stuart Whitman doesn't care about his role, an entirely one-note performance, but he's carried by the indomitable Peter Cushing who always gives 100%, remaining a joyous presence in this otherwise substandard kung fu exploitation. Ti Lung is the actual star here even if he struggles with his English dialogue, the same problem befalls Lily Li. In the end, the novelty value of Shatter probably makes this more of interest to Shaw fans than Hammer fans; although I enjoyed the film, like Golden Vampires, it just left me wanting more from its initial promise, ultimately coming across as incredibly sloppy and rather underwhelming.

Shatter, an international contract killer, has been assigned to assassinate the President of a small African country and collect his fee from a bank in the Far East. On arrival in Hong Kong his life is threatened and when the bank denies all knowledge of payment arrangements, he realises he has been drawn into a dangerous game where there are no rules. Amongst the players are the Mafia and several foreign intelligence services and the stakes being played for are deadly.

Stuart Whitman as hitman Shatter looks suitably shattered and world weary. He does a fine job in a film that isn't a James Bond-style film. It's more of a gritty action thriller that benefits from aforementioned Whitman's presence, Peter Cushing ( who can make anything good), Hong Kong location, and Ti Lung's fighting. A lot of kung fu fighters lack Bruce Lee's brand of to-the-point, bone-crushing speed and dynamically charged school of hard knocks, but Ti Lung achieves this to a certain degree. I was impressed. Without the kung fu fighting and other attractions I had mentioned, it can be rather dull, lacks spark and muddled; it isn't great, but just ok.

Strangely boring action film about a mumbling stone faced assassin touring Hong Kong after being betrayed by his employers.

Completely unaware of it's own nonsense (the camera gun?) Shatter takes on the bad guys with some particularly gory head shots and a camp as buttons falling-out-of-a-window finale. In the meantime his new pals; a kung fu wizard takes out the trash and a hooker with a heart of gold....oh dear. Who could have predicted that?

The story is basic but there's no hope of following it as plot elements are explained only using exposition heavy dialogue and things happen for no real reason and make less sense. (The missile? Severing his vocal chords won't stop him writing things down? Surely there were easier solutions to the syndicate's woes than double crossing a third party?) But at least there are no secret underground layers and no one goes into space. There's misfiring dialogue like "(Shatter)'s not just a name. It's a way of life" Eh?

(In what way? I'm Scottish and I if I was "shattered" I'd be exhausted.

"I'm not just tired. I'm really tired" Tired like this movie.)

He doesn't know who he was working for, does no investigation and makes terrible decisions, his plans are awful and he gets lucky in the end. Just what you need from the world's top hitman. Why try harder?

Apparently the original director got fired after Michael Carreras didn't like the early footage but still lays claim that it's 80% his original cut, it's easy to see why he was replaced; a city as exciting and cultural, exotic even, as Hong Kong should make excellent eye candy but looks dull and impoverished, the action sequences are adequate but introduced far too late after nearly 60 minutes of one-dimension Shatter wandering around and getting beaten up a few times. It's as if they thought "we're in Hong Kong and we need to make a movie but we haven't got a script or any time or money but we've got some actors." And then cobbled together some spy/ hitman shenanigans from the cliche mill, just so long as it goes all the way to the top...

A back alley, a harbour and a hilltop. And some cable cars. It's desperate stuff.

The only good bit is the fight scene in the club full of tension and kinetic drama, but ironically is of no consequence plot-wise and seems to come from a different film. Second unit?

As a Hammer film; it's near the end. The studio had more or less lost its identity and was attempting to break new ground in order to continue but duffers like this only served to accelerate its collapse. Tellingly it also ended the brief friendship with Shaw Brothers.

Stuart Whitman is an international assassin with an evocative name. After performing a hit on a corrupt African leader, he takes refuge in Hong Kong. There he soons begins an affair with Lily Li and an alliance with her brother, martial arts master Lung Ti. But Whitman does not seem to be popular, and several distinct and disparate forces, like the international crime syndicate, the dead dictator's brother, and the British government in the person of Peter Cushing (in his last role for Hammer). And other shadowy forces that want the money he collected for his work, as well as some significant photographs he holds.

This co-production between Hammer and the Shaw Brothers was a troubled production. Monte Hellman shot most of it, but there were delays because Hellman and the cameraman were ill. So Michael Carreras fired Hellman, directed what was left, and took sole credit. Like many martial arts movies in this period, there's just enough of a story to set up the fight scenes. Whitman is stalwart, Miss Li is pretty, and Cushing, as usual, gives value for money.

It's one of those movies that is so bad it's good. Found it by accident when my friend was looking for a scene from "Top Secret" with Val Kilmer, but we found this abomination instead. It's a cult classic. And we learned about the downfalls caused by this movie, and that made this movie so much better. This movie caused the director to swear off directing ever again, stuff like that. Peter Cushing refused to work with Hammer Studio with co-produced it after making 23 movies with them. Both Hammer Studio and the Hong Kong company that made this ultimately were defunct because of this movie. And the main actor, Stuart Whitman go divorced the same year, coincidence...I think not. All this stuff is so bad and so funny that I had to buy and frame a poster of the greatest movie failure. 10/10 would watch again.

Hammer helped define the gothic vampire genre, for which we should be thankful, but they also found need to dabble in other fields with mixed results. Shatter did not have the most inspired mixture and doesn't stand the test of time very well. Perpetually grouchy killer for hire Stuart Whitman fails goes to Hong Kong where he fails to collect from disreputable banker Anton Diffring. Corrupt government official Peter Cushing has his men beat the pulp out of Whitman, who stumbles off to a massage parlor where kung fu master Lung Ti treats him to a freebie from adorable Li-Li Li (whose name sounds like the refrain to a doo-wop song). Whitman finds his apartment blown up so he takes refuge at his new friends' dojo. He slips underground for a while but gets attacked at a martial arts invitational won by understated Ti. Without questioning the moral validity of his instincts, they help him in his quest to extort a mil from Diffring. International affairs gets somewhat sticky from here, and the bullets fly freely until the predictable climax. Carreras tries his best to present Whitman as a then-prevalent philosopher killer, but the weak introspective sequences that show Whitman roaming around his apartment fail to do the trick. The apparently sensitive regret he feels for his victims comes off as a brooding doom with little real emotion backing it up. Shatter's intolerance for international culture makes a few unexpected peeps from its veneer of acceptance. Snooty references to eating snakes evidence a discomfort with the behavior of a foreign country. The background story sets this attitude in stone: Whitman's being tracked down for getting involved with political affairs in Badawi, a corrupt puppet country in Africa in which brothers contentedly murder brothers for money and power. Such situations may perhaps at time truly occur, but the same can be found in Shakespeare with less disapproval asked of the audience. The degree of acceptance present can be seen as a sense of tragedy, completely disconnected with the random slaying of evil black or Asian characters. I don't mean to push the point, but I found it odd that both major black characters were played no-name Yemi Ajibade in an otherwise internationally well-known cast. Cult director Monte Hellman apparently assisted Carreras, far more experienced as a producer, but did not receive credit. Writer Don Houghton produced the other Shaw/Hammer co-production, The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires and also takes credit for the awful but amusing Dracula AD 1972. Scenes allegedly shot in Badawi, a country that does not exist, were probably done in Hong Kong.

It takes failure to find success - - 10/10 for a film that has had every bit stripped away for ideas found in many, many other films to follow. Besides that it's a great Hammer film (not Hollywood pretentiousness) with a real natural, honest gritty feel to it. Hong looks run down as ever, and Peter Cushing is brilliantly British rattling off dialogue as only he can. Nice one liners. Stewart Whitman looks like he will Shatter at any moment and his face has more lines than shattered crystals. So much the better for it adds more realism. Kung fu scenes are super pro- gives Bruce Lee (love him) a real run for his money. There is even a Kung Fu fighting academy with Thai and Japanese martial arts. Wicked. The fighting looks real, not that fake Jackie Chan BS with all the obnoxious squealing. The ending? Shattered.