Tiger Claws

The 90s proved to be a pretty schweet decade for bodaciously Block Rockin' actioners and the ill tempered, razor sharp 'Tiger Claws' remains beloved by DTV Kung Fu cognoscenti and B-movie maniacs alike. This high octane example of backstreets butt-kicking is a winning martial arts hybrid of gritty serial killer shocker and full-tilt, Berretta-blasting, skin flaying, bone-crunchingly brutal martial arts mania! Double trouble, Cynthia Rothrock and Jalal Merhi certainly prove their mettle tracking down their elusive, outsized quarry, as any lesser ranked pugilists wouldn't have a snowball's chance against the mercilessly steel-fingered onslaught of killer Chong's (Bolo Yeung)vicious Kung Fu massacre!

Deep in the seamy midnight city of New York, there's a sinister new breed of maniac bloodily stalking the streets, a living, breathing nightmare, a peerless master of death, a singularly twisted, tiger-clawed executioner, hell bent on the bodily destruction of any martial artist this demented death dealer sets his cold, unwaveringly cruel eyes upon! This seemingly unstoppable campaign of inhuman spite and meat-shredding malevolence compels the Street tough cops, Linda Masterson (Rothrock) and Tarek Richards (Merhi) to resourcefully combine their majestic martial artistry in order to match the maniacal bellicosity of this bestial behemoth, Tiger Claw killer Chong! Kelly Makin's rip-roaring 'Tiger Claws' remains a bona fide VHS-era cult classic, a relentless, bloody-knuckled bonanza of killer Kung Fu Clawesomeness!

My review was written in October 1992 after watching the movie on MCA video cassette.

This formula martial arts actioner is a lesser effort featuring the reigning queen of the genre, Cynthia Rothrock. Video release will please diehard fans.

Pic poses a serial killer who preys on martial artists, leaving a telltale "tiger claws" mark of death. Early on the audience discovers Bolo Yeung's the renegade killer, who works at a martial arts studio.

Cops Rothrock and Jalal Merhi infiltrated the world of karate and kickboxing. Both have ample opportunities for action scenes, but it's all strictly formula.

Filming in Toronto and Vancouver subs unconvincingly for the New York setting, though the pic is technically well-made. Merhi, who also produced, is a cold fish of a hero while Rothrock is stuck in a sidekick role.

Predictable highlights include the massive, perennial genre villain Yeung whipping into action. He's left alive at the finale, setting up sequel potential.

Two detectives (both with martial arts backgrounds) are put on a case of local martial arts masters turning up dead with signature claw marks on the side of the face.

An average star vehicle for the charisma vacum Jalal Merhi. It's the co-stars Cynthia Rothrock and Bolo Yeung (Bloodsport) who kept this straight to video actioner watchable. Sorta plays out like a straightforward slasher cross police investigation mixed with some martial arts. It's on the cheap, the acting is on the same level and the action never really hits a stride. In all quite clunky.

Some complain about acting. They don't know the features of martial art Acting. It's a different thing. Not just b-side kung-fu-karate beat em up. This one is unique for it's sub genre. What we have here is a thriller. The main maniac-killer has very big sport ambitions, but he satisfies himself with anonymus fights till death, leaving only his signature scars on the bodies of his opponents..Bolo plays his role very well. He is a quiet painter in the dojo and he is an ego-maniac killer. Cynthia is sweet and cute in throwing her mighty kicks as allways:) Jalal is less known action star, but he suits the cast perfectly. He looks believable in the role of undercover police man. His pure mean simlycity is the right cure for the twisted Claw-mastermind..

I first saw this in the mid 90s on a vhs.

Revisited it recently.

Rothrock was indeed very hot in this movie. She was busty, bodacious n well dressed n she carried her hairstyle in an illecebrous way.

I have seen many of her movies as a teen, but those days it was for action n martial arts.

I need to revisit her movies now.

Many fellas complained about the bad acting in this movie.

I cannot fathom these fellas who look for acting in action movies, especially of the 80s n 90s.

At times this one gets a bit comical.

The camera zooms in on a fella with mullet hair n thin Zapata moustache who stands on broken glasses.

What purpose it serves is beyond me.

Just outta da blue a guy (skilled in drunken style martial arts) gets attacked by a bunch of fellas.

He is rescued by our hero who is searching for someone.

Our hero is a slimmer version of Steven Seagal n he even has a ponytail.

The movie has lots of oh ha with tight fists, claw like fists n constipated faces.

We have fellas punching in hot sand, hot tar, hot water.

I still cannot fathom what purpose does it serves.

A cop is kicked in the sea n after lottuva time has expired, he yells help, i can't swim. Man, how he didn't drowned after being in water for so long is again a bouncer for me.

The movie has terrible background music n the fight choreography ain't stimulating or intense.

Generous with a 6 cos of Rothrock, Bolo Yeung n Jalal Merhi, the guy who produced and acted in numerous action films that can be considered martial arts B movies of the 90s.