So, why the hell is a movie about giant, mutated rats that terrorize a city being highlighted at Bruceploitation? Well, simply because it defines the art of "Bruceploitation" to a "T". About an hour into the film, the rats make their way into a movie theater. What is playing you ask? Well, none other than Bruce Lee's GAME OF DEATH! This guy and his girlfriend are watching Bruce kick Kareem's ass. With G.O.D. working as some sort of aphrodisiac, the young couple starts to make out, hoping to recreate those Bruce Lee screams and wails, if you know what I mean. The suave guy goes to put down his popcorn when CHOMP, a big ol' rat takes a bite out of his hand. Soon the entire theater is overrun with bloodthirsty rats that rip apart unsuspecting kung fu fans. All the while Bruce continues kicking away onscreen.
DEADLY EYES was made by none other than Bob Clouse, the director behind ENTER THE DRAGON and the ill-conceived posthumous version of Lee's GAME OF DEATH. Hey, that is the same film showing in the theater! As if colossally screwing up G.O.D. wasn't enough, Clouse and Golden Harvest (who co-produced DEADLY EYES) went so far as to include superfluous clips of it in this film, making sure to get the most mileage out of the footage. Knowing the crossover between the horror and kung fu demographics, this was a shrewd move indeed. These guys were actually trying to get a cinematic rub from Bruce Lee beyond the grave, hoping that the few moments of the master onscreen would liven up their mediocre monster mash. It is such a cold and calculating move on their behalf. Ladies and Gentlemen, I can't present a more solid example of the exploitation of Bruce Lee. It was also shot in Canada, but we won't hold that against it.
Reviewed by William.