RATING: B+

A Cine Excel Entertainment production. Written and directed by Ron Hall. Produced by Ron Hall and Jessie Kitten. Cinematography by Ed Tillman. Edited by David Huey.

Stars Ron Hall, Rudy Ray Moore, Merry Everest, Anthony Chow, with Gerald Okamura, and Mel Novak.

A new cut of Ron Hall’s 2005 martial arts vampire film has been unearthed this year and it actually brings more of the story along with some exciting action.

Derek Washington is a police officer who has been scared of seeing blood since witnessing the death of his father as a child. When he has a chance to stop a counterfeiter named Gustav Slovak, he sends in his partner/fiancee to help bust him. However, what Derek doesn’t know right away is that Slovak is more than a counterfeiter. He’s a vampire and he kills Derek’s fiancée. Now seething with rage, Derek must find Slovak but finds himself uneasy once he learns of Slovak’s vampirism.

As Derek tries to overcome his fear of seeing blood, the vengeance in him slowlty begins to take over as he fights his way trying to convince a band of local hunters to help him. He finds an ally in Samantha Morris, who introduces him to Master Kao. As Master Kao teaches Derek to harness his energy and improve his fighting skills, Slovak emerges and eventually catches up to Derek. Derek soon becomes the very thing he has wanted to stop, and now, with his newfound power combined with Kao’s training, is set to become the Vampire Assassin.

Back in 2005, martial artist and actor Ron Hall, who many will know from films like Double Blast, Triple Impact, and Bloodsport II, decided to make an indie version of Marvel’s Blade but, of course, change the story. The original film has been compared to the Wesley Snipes-led hit, meshing vampires and martial arts action. And it gained a bit of a cult following. However, Hall surprised everyone this year when he released a director’s cut, adding 20 minutes of footage to bring the full story to life, and quite frankly, this version is much better!

Hall once again delivers as he plays Derek with a determined motive of revenge. It is always great to see him fight as he delivers some amazing moves, which he was also fight choreographer. When he’s not fighting, he’s got the chops, delivering his lines as if he came out of the 80s and 90’s genre of B-movies…oh wait, he did, so it was naturally nice to see that. And to have legend Rudy Ray Moore in one of his last films, playing the family friend who took Derek in and became his life mentor, is just fun to watch. Add to the mix another legend in martial arts icon Gerald Okamura as Master Kao, Derek’s mentor in vampire hunting, shows that while Okamura may have had his share of villain roles, his ally or mentor roles are more fun to watch (talking to you, Ninja Academy!).

Another legend, Mel Novak, brings the charm once again this time in the role of Gustav Slovak, our vampire antagonist. Whether we see him as a sly businessman making deals to make counterfeit money or as he shows his true nature as a vampire, Novak gives off an exhilarating performance that shows why he was a true indie film icon. Having passed away last year, seeing this film just feels right to see paying homage to him. And a bit of a fun fact. Novak is also an associate producer on the film, but is credited under his birth name rather than his stage name. 

Ultimate Vampire Assassin is a fun horror-action film that may be compared to Blade, but as an indie production, it holds up, especially this director’s cut. Ron Hall once again delivers action, but the film is also a great way to see those who are no longer with us, notably Rudy Ray Moore and Mel Novak in an excellent villain role here.