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Standard Edition
Cauldron Films | 1989 | 97 min | Rated R | Dec 15, 2020
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Video
Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Audio
English: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit) ( less)
Subtitles
English SDH
Discs
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD-50)
Playback
2K Blu-ray: Region free
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Price
List price: $24.95
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Movie rating
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6.5
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Blu-ray review
| Movie |
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3.5 |
| Video |
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4.5 |
| Audio |
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3.5 |
| Extras |
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3.5 |
| Overall |
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4.0
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37%
popularity
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American Rickshaw Blu-ray Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf, January 8, 2021
There was a time in the mid-1980s when film producers actively courted Olympic gymnasts to become Hollywood actors. It's not unheard of to add
sporting stars to any ensemble, but there was something in the water around this particular time, with Kurt Thomas transformed into an action hero
for "Gymkata," and Mitch Gaylord went the dreamboat route for "American Anthem." It's not easy to coax a performance out of athletes who don't
have experience being in front of a camera, and for Gaylord, creating a steady career proved to be impossible. However, in the midst of his short-lived
starring days, the gold medalist claimed a leading role in 1989's "American Rickshaw," putting his good looks and ease of movement into the hands of
Italian producers looking for ways to Americanize their genre product. The result is an ideal offering for any bad movie night event -- "American
Rickshaw" never slips out of control, but it remains determined to be absolutely insane.
In the city of Coconut Grove, Scott (Mitch Gaylord) is a college student struggling to make a few bucks as a rickshaw driver. Offering an act of
kindness to Madame Moon (Michi Kobi) by giving the old woman a ride home during a storm, Scott is rewarded with a talisman he casually puts
away. Experiencing a boat-bound seduction from Joanna (Victoria Prouty), Scott realizes he's being secretly recorded by Jason (Gregg Todd Davis),
the son of Reverend Mortom (Donald Pleasance). In the hunt to find the videocassette containing sensitive footage, Scott collects information
leading to a key that opens a storage box containing the Stone of Evil, an ancient Asian power. Soon framed for the murder of Jason by enforcer
Francis (Daniel Greene), Scott is forced to sneak around Miami, looking for Joanna to help clear his name, while Madame Moon provides her mystical
presence around town in the form of a helpful cat and a deadly cobra.
The plot of "American Rickshaw" isn't exactly clear, with the screenplay tossing together a mix of Asian mysticism and American thriller, giving
director Sergio Martino an opportunity to do whatever he wants with the picture, as long as it retains sex and violence. There's the suggestion of a
cat's cradle story to follow, introducing numerous characters on the hunt for the Stone of Evil, which is placed in a storage locker at the beginning of
the film. Clarity is soon erased when personal kinks come into play, finding Scott tempted into a strange boat to have immediate sex with Joanna,
who works to lure men into frame, with the action recorded by Jason, a thumbless thrill-seeker who also happens to be the son of Reverend
Mortom, the head of a megachurch (actually a not-so-carefully photographed community center) who's after the Stone of Evil himself, but for
reasons that aren't revealed until the end of the movie.
Actually, nothing is revealed until the end of the movie, with Martino trusting general oddness will carry the viewing experience. Constant confusion
is the primary idea here, following Scott as he becomes a magnet for trouble, framed for murder by Francis, a Jonestown survivor(!) who's also
looking for the key previously attached to Jason. Joanna's saga is also worked into the picture, as the seemingly reckless stripper and prostitute who
tells the cops that Scott is a murderer becomes a partner with the hero(?), but only after the twosome have sex in a motel room shower (ick), with
Gaylord keeping his jeans on for I'm sure a very good reason. "American Rickshaw" is wild in many ways, constantly throwing characters and turns
of plot at the audience without explanation, occasionally breaking up the weirdness with chase scenes that eschew Miami beauty to visit such easily
permit-able hotspots as a parking ramp and train tracks in the middle of an industrial area. Ahh, Florida. Of course, this is a production that doesn't
fully understand how household front doors work, so perhaps it's best not to expect too much from Martino, who tries to keep things moving,
putting faith in the final act to clarify everything.
Spoiler alert: the final act doesn't clarify everything.
American Rickshaw Blu-ray, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a "2K Scan from the camera negative." Detail is immediately striking,
showcasing textured facial surfaces, including wrinkly aging effects on Madame Moon, along with furry cat close-ups and scaly snake shots. Costuming
is fibrous, and locations are dimensional. Makeup offerings are distinct. Colors are inviting, largely dealing with Floridian hues that push big pinks and
blues, and clothing adds varied primaries. Reds are strong, with Madame Moon's lair vivid. Skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Grain is fine
and film-like. Source is in good condition.
American Rickshaw Blu-ray, Audio Quality
The 2.0 LPCM mix isn't working with a striking sound design, with the thin, B-movie-ness of "American Rickshaw" in full effect. Sibilance issues are
common, but intelligibility is never threatened, offering clear dialogue exchanges. Scoring cues aren't strong, but the synth mood is set, and action is
never overwhelmed. Sound effects are satisfactory.
American Rickshaw Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation
"American Rickshaw" doesn't have much storytelling power, getting lost in numerology and astrology as a way to present itself with some deeper
meaning it doesn't actually have. However, it's a fun watch at times, with Martino sneaking in gratuitous nudity and graphic makeup effects. He
celebrates the 1980s with VHS blackmailing and hypodermic needle wielding (Scott threatens to give Joanna AIDS if she doesn't comply with his
demands). And there's the sight of Gaylord trying to present himself as a dramatic force, failing at every turn. There are a lot of unintentional laughs to
be had here, which is the real reason to sit through "American Rickshaw." It's super goofy and Pleasance-approved, supplying an entertaining ride
through Italian filmmaking imagination and all the nonsense it contains.
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