Why so many Kung Fu films from China in North America? Surely there are more Chinese films of a non martial arts ilk deserving release in North America? Do I have to fly on Cathay Pacific to see them? But until and if that occurs enjoy “The Butcher’s Blade”.
“The Butcher’s Blade” packs in plenty of impressive if not spectacular Kung Fu action but possesses a modern streak encompassing political and moral corruption in a more complicated fashion than simply good guys and bad guys. The seemingly good guys may be eviller than the bad guys! And the bad guys including those whom you may have thought are the good guys are all very bad.
Put another way there is a heavy dose of bad guys messing in politics and grasping for power. There are issues of personal morality at play. Yes, swords are slashing, blood is spurting and unbelievable acrobatics grace the screen but there is something deeper.
Xue Buyi (Liu Fengchao) is a former member of the elite crack Eagle Hall militia who has for over a decade strayed from the elite into a lower level “constable” held in the lowest regard by fellow constables. His best friend is the noodle lady.
The core principles of Eagle Hall officers are capture, interrogation and execution.
As a result of a devastating flood a relief fund comprised of silver ingots is created which is robbed from the Treasury. Xue Buyi is set up as a fall guy for the robbery by Lord Zhang often referred to as Jailer Zhang but rescued seconds before beheading by Lord Huang Shining (Chunyu Shanshan) his former Eagle Hall master.
Xue Buyi is given a chance by Lord Huang to track down the thieves, a desperate lot as they murdered a sizeable police guard to carry off the loot. Xue Buyi and his former best Eagle Hall friend Li Zhen (Yuan Fufu) hunt down Nine-patterned Dragon and Seven-faced-Fox as leaders of the theft operation.
Track down these villains they do and the viewer is treated to a spectacular firework factory and illegal bank fight. There is some well-deserved soy sauce and rapist/slasher revenge involved. Speaking of soy sauce Eagle Hall members love noodles prepared by the noodle lady!
Silver ingots flow amongst the Eagle Hall militia involved upon the apprehension of Dragon and Fox. Payola it would seem as the mastermind behind the relief fund theft is not hunted down. That is where the political intrigue thickens and good and bad are terribly blurred but there may be honour and redemption for Xue Buyi.
Motto of the movie. Politicians are snakes and not to be trusted and in Kung Fu tradition it is safe to say good trumps evil!
Watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rd3vQCGLU4.
“The Butcher’s Blade” debuts on Digital 12May2026 from Well Go USA Entertainment.
Director is Liu Wenpu.
RKS Films of China Rating 88/100.
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