Tiger Claws

The police does not know what to do. They have to deal with a serial killer who aims at martial arts masters. One after another is killed in the same brutal way. This may be a chance for detective Linda Masterson (Cynthia Rothrock) to work on her first murder case. She gets the job and to her side an other martial arts specialist, Sgt. Tarek Richards(Jalal Merhi). Now they need to find a tiger style master, because the killer obviously uses tiger style kung fu. Not a simple task, since tiger is a very ancient and rare style. ...Tiger Claws.

You can tell that Cynthia Rothrock and Jalal merhi aren't actors first, but martial artists first who turned to acting. Their acting can be amateurish, especially Jalal Merhi, who looks like he's reading from an autocue, however there's some charm in the natural and simple performances. Plus it suits this type of film, which is a hybrid of martial arts and the serial killer genre. It's a fairly good idea, and the spotlight on various martial arts and the tournaments is quite interesting. I would've preferred a who-dunnit angle, but with the legendary Bolo Yueng featuring here that's out of the question - you know he's a heavy, and halfway through he's revealed as the killer.

Rothrock was the best in this with her fights,acting and outfit alongside with Bolo Yeung , but she wasn't the lead, Merhi was. The problem with that was, Rothrock had all the experience and was better equipped to lead a movie and at the end of the movie it was more than OK if Rothrock had been finished Bolo in a combat fight.If Jean-Claude van Damme or even Richard Norton had been the lead male in this movie then this film had been a classic.Jalal Merhi was very awful in this unfortunately but the movie was enjoyable enough though but would have been a lot better. So i recommend you this film and if you are a Cynthia Rothrock fan you'll not be disappointed.

My review was written in October 1992 after watching the movie on MCA video cassette.

This formula martial arts actioner is a lesser effort featuring the reigning queen of the genre, Cynthia Rothrock. Video release will please diehard fans.

Pic poses a serial killer who preys on martial artists, leaving a telltale "tiger claws" mark of death. Early on the audience discovers Bolo Yeung's the renegade killer, who works at a martial arts studio.

Cops Rothrock and Jalal Merhi infiltrated the world of karate and kickboxing. Both have ample opportunities for action scenes, but it's all strictly formula.

Filming in Toronto and Vancouver subs unconvincingly for the New York setting, though the pic is technically well-made. Merhi, who also produced, is a cold fish of a hero while Rothrock is stuck in a sidekick role.

Predictable highlights include the massive, perennial genre villain Yeung whipping into action. He's left alive at the finale, setting up sequel potential.

I first saw this in the mid 90s on a vhs.

Revisited it recently.

Rothrock was indeed very hot in this movie. She was busty, bodacious n well dressed n she carried her hairstyle in an illecebrous way.

I have seen many of her movies as a teen, but those days it was for action n martial arts.

I need to revisit her movies now.

Many fellas complained about the bad acting in this movie.

I cannot fathom these fellas who look for acting in action movies, especially of the 80s n 90s.

At times this one gets a bit comical.

The camera zooms in on a fella with mullet hair n thin Zapata moustache who stands on broken glasses.

What purpose it serves is beyond me.

Just outta da blue a guy (skilled in drunken style martial arts) gets attacked by a bunch of fellas.

He is rescued by our hero who is searching for someone.

Our hero is a slimmer version of Steven Seagal n he even has a ponytail.

The movie has lots of oh ha with tight fists, claw like fists n constipated faces.

We have fellas punching in hot sand, hot tar, hot water.

I still cannot fathom what purpose does it serves.

A cop is kicked in the sea n after lottuva time has expired, he yells help, i can't swim. Man, how he didn't drowned after being in water for so long is again a bouncer for me.

The movie has terrible background music n the fight choreography ain't stimulating or intense.

Generous with a 6 cos of Rothrock, Bolo Yeung n Jalal Merhi, the guy who produced and acted in numerous action films that can be considered martial arts B movies of the 90s.

Some complain about acting. They don't know the features of martial art Acting. It's a different thing. Not just b-side kung-fu-karate beat em up. This one is unique for it's sub genre. What we have here is a thriller. The main maniac-killer has very big sport ambitions, but he satisfies himself with anonymus fights till death, leaving only his signature scars on the bodies of his opponents..Bolo plays his role very well. He is a quiet painter in the dojo and he is an ego-maniac killer. Cynthia is sweet and cute in throwing her mighty kicks as allways:) Jalal is less known action star, but he suits the cast perfectly. He looks believable in the role of undercover police man. His pure mean simlycity is the right cure for the twisted Claw-mastermind..