Starring - John Wyman (For Your Eyes Only, Nash Bridges), Carol Royle (The Outsider, Crime Traveler), Holly Palance (The Omen, Thriller)
Release Date - 1982
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
When I started my little review blog over a decade ago, I did so with the intent to review the direct to video action and exploitation flicks that has been lost to time. It didn't take long for my love of horror to take over and most of the films I started reviewing was just that. However, I would still keep an eye out for action flicks that time forgot. Recently, I was sent the Bloody Legend: The Complete Cliff Twemlow Collection which featured several action flicks along with some horror titles. I started the set with the documentary Mancunian Man before diving into the first film which was 1982's Tuxedo Warrior. Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one my way!
The film follows Cliff (Wyman) who owns a bar in Zimbabwe when he finds himself in the middle of a game of cat and mouse when some friends rob a bank. He promises to help them out if they promise to share some of their spoils with him.
When I was looking into the films in this set, it was Tuxedo Warrior that really caught my attention. I knew I needed to watch the documentary first just so I would know more about Twemlow and his career but the title and all the artwork I found for this film really peaked my interest. My mind was racing all over the place with the different possibilities as to what the film was going to be like and nothing could prepare me for what I actually saw. The acting in this one is something else. I've seen my fair share of no budget flicks yet this may be the stiffest cast I've seen in front of the camera. The cast delivers their lines in monotone most of the film while standing as stiff as possible. It's almost as if they were told if they moved a muscle they would be shot. It's one of the strangest things I've seen in a film. The story for this one feels like it was written around the location they were filming without much time spent on the details. It's extremely dialogue heavy and doesn't really give the viewer that sense of action or adventure. If you go into this one think it's an action flick like I did, then you will be very disappointed. Finally, don't expect a lot of action sequences or a high body count. The film is mostly people talking and that's about it. Overall, Tuxedo Warrior is one of those titles that will draw in 80s action fans but the movie is nowhere near as fun as the artwork. I wanted to love it but I just couldn't. This is one I would recommend skipping.
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