Director Ngai Kai Lam's gory cult classic martial arts film RIKI-OH: THE STORY OF RICKY is getting a DVD and Blu-ray release from Mediumrare Entertainment on July 27th in the UK, and this definitely sounds like one fans around the globe might want to import.
First, a synopsis for those not familiar with the film, and a refresher for those who are:
RIKI-OH: THE STORY OF RICKY is set in an alternative universe in the year 2001. After killing the drug dealer responsible for his girlfriend’s death, Ricky (Fan Siu-Wong) finds himself banged up in a prison ruled by a corrupt warden and a group of super-mercenaries known as the Gang of Four.
Trained in an especially deadly form of martial arts, and possessing super-human strength making him virtually indestructible, Ricky responds to the bullying of various inmates, prison guards and the Gang of Four in the only way he knows how…
Cue disembowelment, decapitation, dismemberment, flaying, manual organ removal, exploding bodies, crushed heads, exposed brains, popping eyeballs, human mincing (and we’re not talking about adopting dandyish affectations here!), one jaw-dropping mother of a monster and the goriest climax you will ever see!
And now, the special features Mediumrare has put together:
Interview with leading man Fan Siu-Wong
Feature-length audio commentary with Hong Kong Stuntman Jude Power and critic Miles Wood
Martial Arts Showcase with Fan Siu-Wong
Trailer Archive
24-Page Collector's Booklet
Reversible sleeve with newly created artwork on both sides
Original Stereo 2.0 and 5.1 audio
Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
RIKI-OH first came to my attention back in the '90s, in the era when THE DAILY SHOW was being hosted by Craig Kilborn. I was fascinated by this clip that was regularly featured on the show, in which a man just completely obliterated another man's head with a simple martial arts move. I was determined to someday see the movie that clip came from, and I eventually learned it was RIKI-OH.
I have to confess, though, that I still haven't really watched RIKI-OH. I've been in a room where the movie was playing on a screen, I've seen much of the violence, but I've never actually sat down and given it my full attention. This new release is making me think it might be about time for me to do so.
Amazon.co.uk has the Mediumrare edition of RIKI-OH available for pre-order here.