After a series of successful martial arts films with The Cannon Film Group such as Enter the Ninja, Revenge of the Ninja, and Ninja III: The Domination, Sho Kosugi, the face of the ‘ninja craze’ in the 80s, teamed up with Crown International Pictures to produce the campy cult classic 9 Deaths of the Ninja.
Similar to The Cannon Film Group, Crown International Pictures was famous for the exploitation of films. However, Crown had more independence and their films were a few notches up, or is that down, in the b grade department. With titles like Orgy of the Dead (1965), Blood Mania (1970), and Galaxina (1980) in their catalog, it is easy to understand why 9 Deaths of the Ninja is nearer to ‘drive in’ than his other films.
The history surrounding 9 Deaths of the Ninja is a very interesting one. Emmet Alston, who directed New Year’s Evil in 1980, was hired to be the filmmaker of Cannon’s Enter the Ninja in 1981. But mid-way through production, Alston, alongside Mike Stone, the original lead for Enter the Ninja, was relieved from his post by Menahem Golan. Golan was now in charge of directing the movie, which is why he allowed Alston to become the second unit director instead. Stone was the first to be fired because of his lack of competence. He was replaced by Franc Nero, who played Django. Although Stone acted in the movie as a stuntman and served as the film’s consultant. Alston was mysteriously demoted, and it is clear that Alston, Golan’s reputation of being an absolute control freak had a role to play in it.
Four years would pass before Alston finds ninja retribution with 9 Deaths of the Ninja, the film he directed and wrote. In addition, he along with beyond prolific producer Ashok Amritraj (Double Impact), landed a deal with the ultimate ninja actor, Sho Kosugi. Oddly enough, Cannon’s Golan and Yoram Globus were also executive producers, which may explain Kosugi’s involvement, which I’m glad for. Always polite, this was Alston’s movie and the way he wanted to make it, and so he did.
The story in 9 Deaths of the Ninja revolves around the adventures of Spike Shinobi (Kosugi), Steve Gordon (Brent Huff), and Jennifer Barns (Emilia Crow) a trio of secret service agents sent to the Philippines to aid rescue of a group of American hostages. Among the special agents are Kosugi’s real-life children, Kane and Shane who are kids in the movie. Vivan “Alby the Cruel Dammet Blackie” and Regina ‘Honey Hump’ Richardson lead the terrorist group.
Kosugi did not even mention this film in any of his interviews, which is a darn shame because it is arguably one of his most entertaining features when viewed viewing it from the lens of so bad it’s good. 9 Deaths of the Ninja is revelatory in this regard. It is, without a doubt, the red-headed stepchild in Kosugi’s filmography.
Everything the pacing, editing, and acting is rough around the edges and 9 Deaths of the Ninja certainly captures the “cheaply made, third-rate Asian film” title. Not only did it have the audacity to be shot in the Philippines with additional actors from mostly Filipino talent, but Kosugi’s voice was also dubbed. To be fair, most of Kosugi’s movies were voice-over by another actor, but 9 Deaths of the Ninja does take the cake for having poor voice acting. This is also close to being as outrageous as a Cirio H. Santiago flick, which is saying something.
What makes 9 Deaths of the Ninja captivating is that it’s literally Kosugi as Jackie Chan: he’s mischievous, he’s witty, he makes silly faces – and like Kojak, he has this weird habit of chewing on lollipops which he keeps in a pouch belt alongside his shurikens. In one of the fight scenes, Kosugi just about manages to win the battle after a team of little people assassins punch him in the nuts. And a little pointer for some of you ladies (and maybe some of you gents too): 9 Deaths of the Ninja is the only opportunity to catch sight of Kosugi sporting speedos.
Kosugi appears to be a big fan of James Bond. 9 Deaths of the Ninja offers a 007-type intro credit sequence that portrays a shirtless Kosugi. He swings his ninja sword as sexy ballet dancers twirl around him. In addition, the movie contains a standard action scene prior to the credits. During this Židan Bond episode, we are also treated to a poorly made pop-ballad love song that is neither Bassey nor Simon. Not to mention that there is also a villain who resembles Richard Kiel. Not long before this, Kosugi emerged in a Bond film, Octopussy (1983), alongside former professional tennis player and producer’s brother, Vijay Amritraj. Kosugi was also in 1985, in one more film with the oh-so-familiar Pray for Death Kosugi’s title sequence while playing around yet again.
Somehow, I was surprised to find out that 9 Deaths of the Ninja is marketed as a parody. The truth is, the movie was very humorous, and I might have chuckled a few times, but the R rating was giving me warning signs. Now, what Kosugi movies always deliver is poor action sequences peppered with a few great martial art moves, and this one did not disappoint. While many adored Ninja movies, this was more of a corny take on action flicks. Finally, it has more than a couple of cringe moments.
It’s hard to believe, but 9 Deaths of the Ninja was the last movie that Kosugi did connect with Golan and Globus. The role of American Ninja was initially supposed to be given to Kosugi as well, but because of some contractual disarrangements, that role was given to Michael Dudikoff. Kosugi first moved to Transworld Entertainment and then started shooting Rage of Honor (1987) and Pray for Death (1985). As for his fellow director Alston, he later helped make Tigershark in 1987 with his Imagine Stone collaborator from Enter the Ninja.
As this review was being written, 9 Deaths of the Ninja happens to be the only Kosugi film, created at the height of his career, that has yet to be released on Blu-ray. Given that the film’s original negatives are most likely stashed away in someone’s home in Manila, don’t keep your hopes too high. However, don’t allow a poor DVD translation to prevent you from watching Kosugi’s most peculiar hour.
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