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Karate Killer

Original title: Kill or Be Killed
  • 1976
  • PG
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
696
YOUR RATING
Karate Killer (1976)
Two former ranking figures of the Axis powers schedule a deadly martial arts tournament in an isolated locale. The two rivals then race to assemble the top competitors from around the world, with Steve Hunt being the most sought after fighter.
Play trailer2:19
1 Video
13 Photos
ActionDramaSport

Two former ranking figures of the Axis powers schedule a deadly martial arts tournament in an isolated locale. The two rivals then race to assemble the top competitors from around the world,... Read allTwo former ranking figures of the Axis powers schedule a deadly martial arts tournament in an isolated locale. The two rivals then race to assemble the top competitors from around the world, with Steve Hunt being the most sought after fighter.Two former ranking figures of the Axis powers schedule a deadly martial arts tournament in an isolated locale. The two rivals then race to assemble the top competitors from around the world, with Steve Hunt being the most sought after fighter.

  • Director
    • Ivan Hall
  • Writer
    • C.F. Beyers-Boshoff
  • Stars
    • James Ryan
    • Charlotte Michelle
    • Norman Coombes
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.7/10
    696
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ivan Hall
    • Writer
      • C.F. Beyers-Boshoff
    • Stars
      • James Ryan
      • Charlotte Michelle
      • Norman Coombes
    • 27User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:19
    Official Trailer

    Photos12

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    Top cast52

    Edit
    James Ryan
    James Ryan
    • Steve Hunt
    Charlotte Michelle
    • Olga
    Norman Coombes
    Norman Coombes
    • Baron von Rudloff
    Danie Du Plessis
    • Chico
    • (as Daniel DuPlessis)
    Raymond Ho-Tong
    • Miyagi
    Ed Kannemeyer
    • Ruell
    Douglas Baggott
    • Luke
    Stuart Parker
    Jorg Henrichsen
    Steve Coetzer
    Klaus Zungler
    Phillip Gerber
    Bevan Bagott
    • Karateka
    Ian Bell
    • Karateka
    Pieter Burger
    • Karateka
    Dick Carroll
    • Karateka
    Michael Coutts
    • Karateka
    Daryl Cutler
    • Karateka
    • Director
      • Ivan Hall
    • Writer
      • C.F. Beyers-Boshoff
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews27

    4.7696
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    Featured reviews

    5Fella_shibby

    This aint even great man, forget being greatest.

    I first saw this in the late 80s on a vhs n liked it a lot.

    Revisited it recently.

    This movie is a self proclaimed greatest martial arts movie but if u sit down to watch it, u will be disappointed cos none of the fight sequence is noteworthy, of course it is laughable.

    It is nothing but a rip off of Enter the Dragon minus the star cast n fight sequences.

    The film has lots of action but it is not at all violent like Sonny Chiba's movies. What they stole from Chiba are his whistles.

    Our main guy in this movie keeps on making whistling faces.

    Our main guy while fighting a muscular hulky fella, keeps on jumping on and off a mountain without even touching his opponent.

    Do watch out for the desert vehicle n how our main guy fights off dogs.
    andy-573

    don't expect too much...

    If you're not expecting an Oscar performance, then you just might like this movie! Forget the script, forget the acting. Some great fight scenes, some phony karate screaming, and a dozen or so GREAT one-liners while the fighters train will keep you entertained.

    This was bloodsport arena-like fighting long before van damme.
    5jellopuke

    Some good, some bad

    There's some great stuff in here but the plot is needlessly convoluted and the editing choppy. The fighting is solid in parts, awkward in others but the amateurish moviemaking is what hurts it the most. It was almost like they made it up as they went along/filmed out of order/put it together out of order/didn't have a solid script. Okay cult movie, but hardly a must watch.
    5PeterMitchell-506-564364

    This 'Kill is no Kill And Kill Again

    I was expecting another Kill And Kill Again. What I got was a slower and much less punchy vehicle. At times, there seems to be hardly any activity at all. The story too, goes off the beaten track a little like when Ryan and his love take off through the desert on their wind sailor, singing jubilantly, eating up too much screen time. The opening music theme, which I absolutely loved, and it's locale scene, a long exterior shot of a big fortress in the desert, as I frankly recall, is the first thing that clicks in my mind when I think about Kill Or Be Killed. With this film I was short changed afraid. There's much less action where you're kept waiting, especially from the start, where it came between long intervals. A slightly younger looking Ryan, with shorter, neater hair, who was in fact only 18 when he made this, plays another Steve character, who's drawn back into a fight in another big arena, where participants fight with weapons of choice. Ryan, a Chard Hayward sounding actor, does have a certain charisma, but not good acting status, where he's surrounded by a few antic characters, that midget guy a hoot. These characters at least add something to this disappointing actioner. After seeing Ryan's other flick, this had me on quite a come down, it had me moping. If you've seen this, and wasn't satisfied, and you've haven't seen the other kill movie, it's vitally imperative you do, as it may just bring your spirits up, for this 'Kill is so over ridden by, it's follow up.
    8disdressed12

    worth watching for the the bad acting and its unintentional comedic value

    i liked this movie,mainly just because of its entertainment value.there are some pretty funny moments,most of them unintentional,i imagine.it is also not very politically correct compared to most of todays movies.if you go into this movie expecting good acting,i think you will be disappointed.but,the movie does have some pretty good martial arts fighting scenes,though at times they are ridiculously absurd and unrealistic.i did like the different fighting styles shown in the movie.the sound effects are horrible,yet are great for their comedic value.the movie is very low budget and the plot is almost non existent.but for action and comedy,you can't go wrong with this movie.it is a classic and very hard to find,but if you come across it, you will likely be very amused,at the least.based on the fight scenes and the comedic value,i give "Kill or be Killed" 8/10*

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    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in Moneyball (2011)
    Sport

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film ''Kill or Be Killed'' was originally released in the USA as ''Karate Killer' but had previously been released in English language in its native South Africa under the title of ''Karate Olympiad''.
    • Goofs
      Most of Steve's high jumps are just filmed with him jumping down and then played in reverse.
    • Connections
      Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-in Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 5 (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Punti Di Vista
      (uncredited)

      Music by Alessandro Alessandroni

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    FAQ12

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 28, 1980 (Australia)
    • Countries of origin
      • South Africa
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kill or Be Killed
    • Filming locations
      • Swakopmund Airport, Swakopmund, Namibia
    • Production company
      • Kavalier Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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