u/Letatetet

For how well known he is throughout the west, it’s surprising how few people know about Jackie Chan’s earlier work as one of the top action stars of Hong Kong cinema throughout the eighties (along with his former schoolmates Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao). Most people seem to either know him from either *Rush Hour* or that one cartoon, which is a real shame since his earlier stuff is way more interesting and has WAY more action.

This movie pretty much represents Jackie at the height of his powers. It is impossible to overestimate the number of insane things that this man can do with his body here, he’s just does perfectly choreographed backflip after backflip, punch after punch… you get the idea. Here’s just one scene where he absolutely tears through the screen:

https://youtu.be/9x_EFZ73bDc?si=jYgoM19VK813sbp-

If you’re familiar with Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung, then you probably already know that he used to be one of the most represented subjects in Hong Kong cinema. This film pretty much takes the piss out of that legend by portraying Wong (played by Jackie) as a charismatic but mischievous Kung-fu prodigy who eventually hones his skills through training with the equally legendary master drunkard Beggar So (Yuen Siu-tien). Yuen, who died the year after this film released, is in no less impressive form here than Jackie himself and really needs to be seen to be believed.

One issue though that might even be a dealbreaker for some: Tubi only has the dubbed version of this film. Now, while I happen to think this dub is pretty decent and retains the sense of humor well, the original language is simply always better, and this one definitely has problems (the film renames Wong Fei-hung to Freddy Wong, for example).

Regardless, any way that you can watch this movie, please do. What it lacks in major action setpieces that Jackie has become known for it more than makes up for that with the *sheer volume* of electrifying stunts and martial arts performed by the whole cast.

I haven’t seen the rest of Jackie’s Hong Kong work (except for Police Story) but if any of it can top this movie then I really oughta kick myself for not watching these when I was 15.

You shouldn’t really let that “horror” flair fool you, this film really isn’t trying to be scary and is much closer to being a comedic pastiche of old 1950s monster films like “The Blob” where most of the runtime is spent on small-town antics. However, whereas the humor in most no budget horror-comedies relies on shoving fourth-wall breaks into scenes like they’re the deus ex machina of jokewriting, “Don’t Let the Riverbeast Get You” wisely decides to go in a more irreverent and charming route. A sample joke so you have an idea:

Person A: “You’re so nonchalant over there, eating peanuts, not offering them to anybody else.”

B: “You never offered me any of your butternut squash yesterday.”

A: “One doesn’t share butternut squash. It’s too difficult to share.”

As for the actual plot, “The Greatest Tutor in New England” Neil Stuart returns to his hometown after he left in disgrace three years ago claiming that there was a “riverbeast” hiding in the nearby woods. He and soem new companions soon are hot on the trail of proving the existence of the creature.

This movie is definitely lamenting a sense of “provinciality” that doesn’t appear in modern films as they are products of a consumer society which no longer feels endeared to that idea.

A fun, cute movie if you want something a little different and can vibe with its laid back pacing and sense of humor.