Black Power, Kung Fu, Demons: Just Another Grand Illusion Late Show

One of the greatest things about the Grand Illusion Cinema is that the beloved local revival house still manages to dig up some seriously wiggy-assed schlock surprises for their late shows. And Devil’s Express, which plays there tonight and tomorrow, qualifies on that front for damned sure.

Warhawk Tanzania plays Luke Curtis, a New York Kung Fu master who visits the Orient with his good-for-nothin’ pal Rodan (Wilfredo Roldan). Luke studies martial arts on the sojourn, but Rodan busies himself by stealing an ancient Chinese pendant that releases a ping-pong-eyed demon. Said monster hopscotches to New York via boat, raising a ruckus in the Big Apple’s subway tunnels. And somewhere amidst the horror show, there’s some amateur-hour inner-city gang warfare, too (hence the movie’s alternate title, Gang Wars).

Devil’s Express arrives at the Grand Illusion courtesy of Code Red DVD, and this shotgun video label/theater union promises to bring many more oddball treats to late show audiences in the coming weeks. No, despite my well-documented world-class fondness for horror movies, yours truly has NOT seen this sure-to-be-incredible, unavailable-on-DVD 1976 treasure. But I will be there with bell(-bottom)s on, as should you, brothers and sisters.

In the meantime, enjoy this highly entertaining review (mild spoiler alert) from Mark H. Harris’ superbad website, blackhorrormovies.com. Then take a peek at the trailer. If you’re not hooked, there’s something wrong with you.