In the underworld of supervillain fiction, the most prominent names that come to mind are Batman’s nemesis, The Joker, Superman’s nemesis, Lex Luthor, and the Fantastic Four’s nemesis, Doctor Doom. All originating as comic book characters in the 1940s and 1960s, pre-dating each is the maniacal Fu Manchu, who first appeared in 1912. The creation of English Writer Sax Rohmer, Fu Manchu is recognized as a ruthless, sinister villain with superior intelligence, and of course, an infamous moustache.
Created during a time of Yellow Peril (when Westerners feared Asians would take over their world), by contemporary standards, the character of Fu Manchu might not be very politically correct. There is a good argument for that, because there are a lot of negative depictions entwined in the character based on tropes and stereotypes about Chinese people. However, it is essential to recognize that not everyone, regardless of cultural background, thinks the same. While some might be offended by the idea of Fu Manchu, others might find the character amusing based on the absurdity of his nature. Nonetheless, it would be absolutely ludicrous to look at the character of Fu Manchu as anything more than entertainment, and it should not be a cultural depiction in any way whatsoever.
All of this said, for over one hundred years, Fu Manchu has lived on through comics, television, and feature films. With many films to come and go through the decades, you had 1932’s The Mask of Fu Manchu (starring Boris Karloff), but also famed Spanish Director Jess Franco’s entry into the series, beginning with The Blood of Fu Manchu in 1968.
Calling on the legendary Christopher Lee to play the titular role of Fu Manchu (who portrayed him in 1965’s The Face of Fu Manchu, 1966’s The Brides of Fu Manchu, and 1967’s The Vengeance of Fu Manchu), in Franco’s The Blood of Fu Manchu he is up to his old dirty tricks of conquer the world by having ten beautiful women place a poisonous kiss of death on ten selected world leaders. Rather brilliant and sadistic when you think about it, with the assistance of his daughter Lin Tang (played by Tsai Chin), Fu Manchu may actually succeed in his evil quest this time around.
What is considered the fourth film in the series, Jess Franco certainly leaves his signature style all over the film with sadistic sexuality and nudity as seen in his other films like 1970’s Night of the Blood Monster (also starring Christopher Lee). First released in 1968 in London, by 1969, The Blood of Fu Manchu had reached places like the USA. Unfortunately, the US version was edited down; however, in 2025, fans can now find the unrated European version in 4K Ultra HD for the first time.
Made possible by Blue Underground, a two-disc set (a 4K and Blu-ray disc) arrived on July 29, 2025, and comes with a ton of goodies. As stated, this is the uncut European edition, which includes the extra explicit aspects that Franco’s original had, but with a pristine 4K transfer from the original camera negative. Amplified with the use of Dolby Vision HDR technology, it is the best presentation of The Blood of Fu Manchu ever put out.
Joining this, you also get new audio commentaries, interviews, and a new RiffTrax Edition. Coupled with a lovely limited edition embossed slipcase with new artwork, you also get a reversible sleeve with alternative art. So, if you are a fan of Jess Franco and cannot help but enjoy the sinister Fu Manchu, this is a must-have, with Cryptic Rock giving the 4K Ultra release of The Blood of Fu Manchu 4 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment