Kung fu vengeance meets corrupt landlords in a 1977 blaxploitation punch-up.
DEATH PROMISE
Filthy rich landlords get away with murder. It's time they pay for it.
Filthy rich landlords get away with murder, now it's time they pay for it! Revenge is on the plate and Charles Bonet is here to serve. When Bonet's father is murdered by typical street scum, the catalyst is set. It turns out the landlord had Bonet's father snubbed out in order to demolish one of his slum houses. Bonet is now out for street justice. But first he must get his martial arts skills up to par and recruit a couple of ass-kicking partners.
Where else can you see slumlords taken down by 70s kung fu with this much misplaced enthusiasm?
Death Promise delivers exactly what the title promises: a wild ride of 70s street justice, amateur kung fu, and a blaxploitation twist. If you like your revenge flicks with non-actors, rambling dialogue, and an earnest heart beating beneath the cheese, this one’s straight from the grindhouse gutter.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Death Promise is a 1977 American action film directed by Robert Warmflash about a fighter who seeks martial arts-fueled revenge against the landlords who murdered his father.
- Director
- Robert Warmflash
- Writer
- Norbert Albertson Jr.
- Release
- 1977
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Action
- Also Known As
- Pay-Off Time, Enter the White Dragon, Slumfighter
Synopsis
Synopsis
It is with glee in our hearts and clumsy 70s karate vengeance on our minds that we present to you the amazing, undefinable Death Promise. So goofy, so full of confused non-actors wandering through their dialogue like kids lost at the mall, and with so much more gentle sincerity than you’d expect in a movie about systematic revenge against a group of evil slumlords. It’s Guy From Harlem meets Kill Bill meets an after-school special about friendship - in other words, we really like it.
Death Promise is the story of the two least convincing Bruce Lee clones ever, one harbouring an obsession to put his arms around his friends. Given his miniscule size it’s a wonder he can ever get his arm around them.
The lead is actually the chronic hugger, who probably should stick to ripping off Bruce’s attire, however he may have inspired Steven Seagal’s wacky dress sense.
He lives in a rundown apartment with his father. When the dodgy landlords try to use unethical methods to get the tenants out, things get heated. But no amount of heat can stop our hero from his second favourite pass time (his first is using karate to fight injustice), putting his arm around his pals.
Why Cult
Part of the 70s wave, this film brings urban revenge drama with a martial arts twist.
Watch non-professional fighters and actors throw down in some of the era's most sincere, clumsy 70s karate sequences.
Filthy rich landlords pay the ultimate price when martial arts becomes the weapon of the oppressed.
From baffled dialogue to unexpected sincerity, this film is a time capsule of low-budget 70s revenge cinema.
Trailer
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
What is Death Promise about? +
Death Promise is about a fighter who trains in martial arts to avenge his father's murder by corrupt landlords.
When was Death Promise released? +
Death Promise was released in 1977.
Who directed Death Promise? +
Death Promise was directed by Robert Warmflash.
How long is Death Promise? +
Death Promise has a runtime of 95 minutes.
What genre is Death Promise? +
Death Promise is an action film.
Where can I watch Death Promise? +
Death Promise is available to stream on SassyFlix.
Themes & Keywords
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