The Black Lizard

A fine Yuen Chor film, in line with his signature films. The martial arts scenes may not be as good as Cheh Chang's oeuvre, but they make up for it with imaginative decors and interesting characters. The Black Lizard is another fine example of Chor's more fantasy-fueled approach, and as such serves as a good entry-level film.

A young swordsman is running into some strange omens. They seem to be warning him that his fiancee may be looking at a shortened lifespan. He wants to save his fiancee from harm and seeks help from Tieh Hu, a venerable constable. Together they uncover a miraculous story.

In many ways this is a quintessential Shaw Bros production, but the shorter runtime is nice, the complete lack of an outro is commendable and Chor manages to conjure up a pleasant atmosphere. It's not a standout film, but it is proper and easy filler that should appeal to all Shaw Bros fans out there.