Calamity of Snakes

Director - Chi Chang (China Heat, Bruce Lee's Deadly Kung Fu)

Starring - Yun-Peng Hsiang (The Challenge of the Lady Ninja, The Cold Sun), Yuen Kao (The Serpent Warriors, Edge of Fury), and Ping-Ou Wei (The Way of the Dragon, Jungle Heat)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Action/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Unearthed Films has tossed me for a few loops over the years. The underground distribution company is known for releasing films such as A Serbian Film, 100 Tears, Evil Dead Trap, and so on. Stephen Biro and Unearthed has brought some visceral and brutal films to the masses. However, lately we’ve seen some unexpected releases. A month or two back Unearthed released the sci-fi drama Grand Tour starring Jeff Daniels. This is a film no one was expecting to see under the Unearthed banner but I was grateful that they took the rick of releasing something out of the wheelhouse. Now I’m sitting here reviewing another oddball release from Unearthed and I fucking loved it. Calamity of Snakes randomly showed up for review from MVD. When I looked at the cover art I was instantly hooked and surprised to see it was an Unearthed released. The next day I received the press release for the film and couldn’t wait to dig into. I want to thank MVD and Unearthed for sending this one over for review. 

      The film begins with a wealthy business man who orders his construction crew to murder thousands of snakes that he finds in a pit when building an apartment complex. Sometime later the building is finished and the new tenants move in. As they decorate their new homes and try to make things as cozy as possible they soon find themselves under attack by snakes seeking revenge. 

      Calamity of Snakes is not a film I would expect someone like Unearthed Films would get involved with. It seems more in line with the releases from labels like 88 Films and Eureka Entertainment. It’s not a violent film that turns murder and carnage into art like so many other films under the Unearthed banner but due to its graphic depiction of hundreds of snakes dying I can see why other labels were reluctant to snag it. Regardless, I’m glad someone did and it’s another cool released from Biro and company. The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from a martial arts film from the 70s into the early 80s. It’s overdramatic with cliched characters but the high energy and zaniness of it all makes it so enjoyable. I loved the cast and the characters even though they did blend in with so many other films from the time. A little more personality would have went a long way but it’s still entertaining as is. The story for this one is not how it was initially intended. The film was cut for American audiences to represent a ruthless businessman slaughtering snakes by the hundreds so he can build an apartment complex. Honestly, I dig it and think it works as it is but this was not the original cut of the film. Finally, this film doesn’t have the greatest effects but some of you sicker genre fans will find some enjoyment out of the hundreds of snakes that are brutalized and murdered for the cameras. Honestly, I could have lived without this especially knowing they were murdered for entertainment purposes when some corny effects would have fit the film better. Overall, Calamity of Snakes is a campy film that doesn’t really fit into the Unearthed catalogue but I do appreciate the effort they put into this release. It is a bit of a gamble for them to release something outside of what they are known for but I honestly loved it. Also, those of you that are turned off but the murder of all those snakes, like myself, should note that a portion of sales is being donated to a good cause. I highly recommend this release and I hope Unearthed keeps up taking risks like this one.