Death Grip

With so many big budget movies with poor action scenes out there, i wonder what these guys could do with bigger budgets. Death Grip shows what some talented people can do with their passion and application, delivering a really solid movie. I admit i lost a bit of interest in the story during the second part, but i also had some fun throughout the movie, especially with the hilarious toilet scene. And i really took a liking for the inoffensive Mark. Obviously, the most brilliant thing was the fighting, with great speed and use of the environment and with Eric reminding me a bit of Jackie Chan in his furious combinations. Keep it going Stunt People!

I found the Stunt People back in 07, and it has been great to see Eric and the crew grow from films like Undercut and Contour to Death Grip. While the aforementioned efforts are great, Death Grip is a jewel for action/martial arts fans. Lots of heart, humor, and above all is the topnotch action choreography. While Death Grip is less campy than some previous efforts by the SP crew, it has moments of drama that are surprisingly real and you can't help but feel the bond between the Zemacus brothers. The supporting cast shines with memorable performances, Alvin Hsing's in particular. Add a healthy dose of a very sinister Johnny Yong Bosch, and you have a multifaceted gem of action kickback called DEATH GRIP. I can't wait to see what comes after this.

One of the best to come from The Stunt People thus far! It's inspiring and fun to see a dedicated group of independent filmmakers advance and improve themselves over the years. This latest effort is beautifully photographed and intelligently written, topped off with impressive fight choreography. What is more engaging is the fighting moves the story along and has character - something that is nearly impossible to achieve in current martial art films with meteoric budgets. This filmic art has heart and a conscious eye on the realism of conflict - the social as well as the physical. This is a "Must See" for anyone who's a martial art film buff as well as those who want a good "Non-Formulaic" story.

A caterer has to rescue his older mentally disabled brother from a dangerous cult after he accidentally steals a relic they desire in this film reminiscent of older Hong Kong fare due to it's genre-jumping shifts in tone and badass fight scenes. One of the best aspects of the film is that the lead character envisions the fights before they occur and so you get to see two different versions of the fights with differing styles of combat in each one. It sounds like it could be confusing but its very well done and just means there is more well shot and choreographed action to enjoy. Some great goofy and dark humor is thrown in as well as some horror style gore and tension. Aside from a really short and thrown in romantic subplot there is very little to get in the way of the fast paced story and high quality action. Highly recommended.

If there's one thing that Eric Jacobus and The Stunt People consistently do, it's embarrass big budget Hollywood action filmmakers, who are generally clueless when it comes to fight choreography and cinematography. "Death Grip" is a fantastic micro-budget action film with a genuinely engaging plot and cast, and quite possibly the best American made martial arts film since Steve Wang's "Drive" (1997). The Hong Kong influence is apparent, so if you like your fight scenes fast, flashy, and furious (like Jackie Chan's "Police Story" for instance), the film is sure to please. Jacobus and his team focus on ground based fighting techniques that are both stylish and hard hitting, and the timing and precision are excellent. The film is also mercifully free from attitude and macho posturing, which is where so many domestic action films go wrong. Instead, we're treated to a tight and intelligent script with authentic dialog and believable characterizations, with no extraneous filler. Action fans and kung fu buffs should rejoice.