Acclaimed hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan are taking over Vancouver on June 30, so we thought it was the perfect time for us to give some big screen love to one of the films that directly influenced them and their music, THE MYSTERY OF CHESS BOXING.

Released in 1979, the film is highly regarded as one of the best kung fu movies of all time, and was a major influence on the Wu Tang Clan. The film’s plot is about a young kung fu fighter who trains under a master of chess, so they can battle “The Ghost Face Killer," a villain who is killing off his old rivals.

This particular version of the film slated to screen at the Rio Theatre comes via Dan Halsted, the Head Film Programmer at Portland's Hollywood Theatre (he also owns the only known 35mm print), and Wu Tang Clan founder RZA’s company 36 Cinema which acquired the rights and made a digital restoration (made directly from Dan's 35mm print!) of the film.

"The original Ghostface Killer is on the loose! A vicious villain with an unstoppable five element technique, Ghostface is killing off all his old rivals. Meanwhile, a young student tries to learn kung fu and is taken under the wing of an old chess master. The basics of chess prove to be the same as the basics of fighting, and eventually the heroes will have to fight Ghostface Killer, who verbally insults his opponents as he annihilates them. A true classic, and obvious favorite of the Wu Tang Clan, directed by Joseph Kuo (SEVEN GRANDMASTERS, 18 BRONZEMEN)." (Dan Halsted)

Thursday, July 10
Doors 8:30 pm | Movie 9:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

THE MYSTERY OF CHESS BOXING (Joseph Kuo, 1979 / NR / 91 mins / Mandarin with EST) Evil Chun Shan uses chess boxing and a five-element ninja style to terrorize the martial arts world until he is challenged in a series of battles, then destroyed.