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Murder Plot

Name: Murder Plot
Director: Chor Yuen
Released: 1979
Duration: 91 min

Representation Score

2.8/10

Limited

1979

Director

Chor Yuen

Runtime

91 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Murder Plot is a quintessential Shaw Brothers wuxia production that emphasizes genre-specific craftsmanship over social diversity. The film centers on traditional heroic figures and martial arts clichés common to the late 1970s. While the film offers intricate plots of intrigue and betrayal, its social structure remains firmly grounded in the era’s conventional hierarchies. The storytelling highlights men's control over the story and ethnic uniformity typical of the Hong Kong golden age. Ultimately, the film excels as a masterful example of its specific genre but does not incorporate diverse representation or challenge traditional roles.

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Category Breakdown

Does Murder Plot have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film adheres to standard 1970s martial arts conventions. There is no evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives that challenge traditional assumptions about sexuality and gender identity.

How does Murder Plot portray gender?

Limited

Male characters play leading roles, while female characters primarily support the main storyline without challenging traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Murder Plot?

Fair

The cast is ethnically uniform, reflecting the Hong Kong film industry of its time. It does not include diverse racial identities or use actors from different backgrounds.

How does Murder Plot represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative follows classic wuxia traditions of honor and revenge. It does not critique Western institutions or modern social constructs.

Does Murder Plot include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities playing key roles in the plot.

Present on Screen

Highly stylized and visually stunning wuxia direction by Chor Yuen.
Complex and engaging plot structures involving intrigue and betrayal.
Strong genre-specific craftsmanship and visual grandeur.

Limited or Absent

Lack of diverse racial identities or varied cultural backgrounds.
Limited opportunities for female characters to take leading roles.
No representation of LGBTQ+ individuals or themes.

Official Synopsis

Director Chu Yuan was already famous for his many collaborations with respected novelist Ku Lung and for his introduction of detective thriller ingredients into the martial arts movie genre. But this production was made even more special by the rare presence of superstar David Chiang. Here he gives another great performance as kung-fu knight Shen Lang, who stumbles across grave robbers while on the trail of a martial arts mass murderer. There's intrigue, betrayals, and battles galore before the last plot is revealed and the final murderer is defeated.

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