Rather confusingly, within a four year span, there were no less than five action films made in Taiwan with the title Lady Killer! This particular one is also known as Deadly Assault (for its Hong Kong release) and boasts quite a decent cast of familiar faces, some of which are mainly associated with CATIII cheapies (example, Chui Seung-Ha and Pai Yu-Chen who also appeared together in Beauty's Evil Roses)
Chung Lin (Mark Cheng) and Uncle Ro (Tsai Hung) are ambushed during an arms deal by a hot-headed, up-and-coming gangster, Cheng Chang (Chang Shan). Chung Lin is fatally wounded and thus Mark Cheng disappears from the film almost as quickly as his name in the opening credits. Upon hearing the news of Chung Lin's fate, his brother Chung Yung (Alexander Lo Rei), returns to Taiwan hell-bent on revenge after years living abroad.
To get closer to Chang, Chung Yung wins the affection of a hostess called May (Lin Pei-Jun) who works in one of Chang's bars. Initially, he uses her to try and get information but the two quickly develop a relationship. After causing a scene at the club, the gangsters are alerted to Yung's presence and blackmail May's elderly father to lure Yung out...
The plot and overall staging of the dramatic scenes is generally quite poor. This is most noticeable during the sub-plot of Yung and May's relationship which is weak and unconvincing. Acting is over-exaggerated (not necessarily a bad thing) with everyone appearing very highly strung - Chang Shan is particularly unhinged! Henchmen are regularly beaten and shot for returning to base with bad news and there's also a bit of rough sex in the jacuzzi at one point to release all that pent up tension..
But then all of a sudden, something unexpectedly magical happens in the final reel. May dons a bandana and goes all female Rambo on us, and the film shifts several gears into wild 'girls with guns' territory!
May and Chung Yung's plan of attacking Chang's gang right after they've picked up a large shipment of heavy artillery is perhaps not the smartest move strategically, but it does mean the finale is packed with a crazy amount of gunfire and explosions. There is some tough hand-to-hand action too, boosted by some slick moves by the always reliable, Lo Rei . Also of note, Chui Seung-Ha (Pink Panther, Tattoo Girl) has a prominent role as Chang Shan's henchwoman, and Shum Wai and Charlie Cho play a pair of greasy shysters (I've lost count how many times they've played the same roles!).
Redeemed by the 'girls with guns' element in the final quarter, Lady Killer is cheap, melodramatic but action-packed.
3 out of 5
Review source: Mei Ah, Laserdisc (Hong Kong) (Mandarin language with English subtitles)
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