New York Ninja

• Written, Directed by and Starring John Liu / Reconstructed by new director Kurtis M. Spieler
• October 2021 (Beyond Fest)

Cast

• John Liu (physical performance)-John Liu

Voice Cast

• John Liu-Don “The Dragon” Wilson
• Randi Rydell-Linnea Quigley
• Jack “The Cameraman”-Vince Murdocco
• Detective Jimmy Williams-Leon Isaac Kennedy
• Detective Janet Flores-Cynthia Rothrock
• Freddy Cufflinks-Matt Mitler
• Nita Liu-Ginger Lynn Allen
• The Kid-Zihan Zhao
• The Pale Man-Bill Timoney
• Ricco-Darius Churchman
• Switchblade-Tom Wayland
• Rattail-Wayne Grayson
• The Plutonium Killer-Michael Berryman

A sound technician for a NYC news station becomes a vigilante ninja after his pregnant wife is murdered by thugs.

From first hearing about the film New York Ninja intrigued me. Though it was begun during the height of the ninja/martial arts craze of the 80s New York Ninja was only completed a few years ago. I’ve heard conflicting stories that the script existed but according to the introduction on the disc there was no script to work with.

Despite having only visuals to work with New York Ninja starts off with a very authentic vibe for the lower budgeted action films of the time. The dialogue and the acting is as bad as any B-movie you could find in the dusty corners of a mom-and-pop video rental store or airing on late night cable. It is perfect late night cable filler and an ideal guilty pleasure.

We have a ninja seeking revenge for the murder of his wife because she witnessed a kidnapping for a sex trafficking ring. The silly and the serious meeting in the cinematic equivalent of those old Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup ads.

Often the script tries for that bad 80s action humor used to cover a bad production mixed in with a series of events showing off the New York Ninja’s growing celebrity and reputation. These are really poorly staged but in the kind of way that makes them unintentionally charming. The individuals originally behind this movie were doing their best with very little. That small aspect is quite clear. They may not have been the best filmmakers, but they weren’t trying to be to crap something out.

The story is one of those careening plots where everything the minds behind it could think of (and afford) was tossed in. We have gangs, crime, sex trafficking, and a killer created by the CIA that kills using his radiation powers. It’s a mess, but an entertaining mess and all over the place in a fun way.

The villains are those goofy ones with an overriding character trait that defines everything they do. It is in the mold the classic James Bond henchmen but in a way that understands them only on a surface level. Such as the guy with the rattail listed in the credits as “Rattail” that occasionally sticks said hair in his mouth to make it even more noticeable. Why? Don’t know.

Since this lacked any sound, they were forced to do something to give it dialogue and so forth. With a reconstructed screenplay by Kurtis M. Spieler after the original screenplay by John Liu, Vinegar Syndrome hired Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Michael Berryman, Cynthia Rothrock, Linnea Quigley, Vince Murdocco, Matt Mitler, Leon Isaac Kennedy, and Ginger Lynn Allen to dub new dialogue. Michael Berryman was a real treat. He has a sinister Jeffrey Combs vibe to his work. He really manages to create a character and enhance the original actor’s physical performance.

Berryman is all sneering and sinister. His voice is perfect for a guy with superpowers purchasing girls to kill during sex via his powers. The physical actor was a bit hammy and over-the-top in what he filmed. The Plutonium Killer’s motives and origin arrive in an information dump much like any poorly crafted actioner.

Like the ninjas in the cult classic Miami Connection, our ninja zips around in daylight though here dressed in white. New York Ninja does very little sneaking mostly because there are no shadows to hide in since this occurs in broad daylight. His weapon of choice is often powder balls.

New York Ninja is a gloriously goofy entertaining romp. It took me back to those random discoveries in the video store that I enjoyed even if they were empty calories.