Martial arts drama. Mostly clichéd, yet still drew me in with its energy and daft-but-fun storytelling. The fight sequences are well done even though Jean-Claude Van Damme’s acting is terrible in the scenes outside the ring. I’d never heard of a Kumite tournament or the name Frank Dux so I did learn a couple of things. Despite its 33% rotten tomatoes rating, an entertaining watch, which the 74% audience score indicates. The soundtrack is very 80s, but also inspiring, such as Fight to Survive by Stan Bush or the instrumental Triumph by Paul Hertzog.

So many versions available on YouTube so I decided to go with the official dvd from the library. The score fits well for a thriller and particularly the chase ending stayed with me. I liked the cinematic approach to storytelling, pulling coat up over face, handcuffs, portraits on the walls, and so on. An impressive trick is when the family look up and we see the lodger (worm 's eye view) restlessly walking alone in his upstairs room. Thematically the same old from Hitchcock, this time in silent.