Cue the Theme Song! ‘The Wolf’ (1987) and the Glorious Trash of ’80s Action VHS
The Wolf (aka Jungle Wolf) is one of those video rentals (we recently acquired a big pile of USA NTSC slip box tapes) that looks ok in a wacky tacky way. I’ve mentioned covers and how deceiving they can sometimes be on a previous review (see The Survivalist Review – Steve Railsback Is an Arsehole in the Apocalypse) but this time there’s no pretending, no excuses, you just know it’s going to be one of those kind of movies. Bring it on, we love ‘em!
Star Rob Marchini is a martial arts expert, like so many from Bruce Lee to Ted Vollrath (see Wheelchair of Vengeance: The Lost Fury of ‘The Amazing Mr. No Legs’) and apparently a very good one. Unfortunately, his acting isn’t very good, but that’s fine because if a flick fills its cast with half-decent performances around him, maybe all will blend nicely. Erm…
To be fair on Ron, he did star in a fair few low-budget action movies through the mid to late ‘80s then into the nineties. He co-wrote three of them and produced a load. Vanity projects? Look, let’s be honest here, how many of us would do the same? My Partner in Gore, Willow, and I have produced and made three short movies — planning to do a complete feature next year. However, apart from one, we aren’t the central players, though we definitely aren’t martial arts experts so fair enough.
Here’s an interesting fact, after looking at IMDb, it seems this film is part of a quadrilogy of action ones, so The Wolf is the third but kind of stands up alone. No need to get the others if you don’t want to.
This is all set in Central America where life is cheap, as are the production values and the people you hire. Back then you honestly could make a video shop epic from next to nothing by filming in places like that. So, we’re in drug capital Columbia, those kind of places and political unrest is rife as we witness an attack then kidnapping of an ambassador. The music is very Cannibal Holocaust-esque. Those electronic “boo boo” sounds. Mr. Ambassador, Worthington, is taken and the head of the freedom fighters addresses the nation on TV after breaking into a station. “Today, we have struck a blow that will be heard around the world!”
Regardless of their probably understandable cause, we can’t be having that. They’re baddies! If their boss isn’t released from prison in seventy-two hours, “The Americano will die!!”
The music has become more dramatic, funky ‘80s. This music is repeated regularly throughout the film. It makes a fun game predicting when (usually action set pieces) and nodding your head about the place.
Time to meet the geeky looking Steve Parrish, played by our boy, Ron. He’s circling the sky in a small plane whilst the worst pop rock Scooby Doo chase scene shit plays. “Back — Back in action, fighting to survive…” His son radios him saying someone wants to see him. Rather than come right down, he shows off about five more minutes for his fan base by circling the sky, basically being a cock, then comes down. At least we get to hear more of that juicy song. “He paid his dues in Vietnam, can he go through hell again?!” Jesus!!!! This fella talks him back — back into action so he leaves his genuinely fed up looking son (is it genuinely his son? They look so alike).
It isn’t long before Steve is using his chopping skills to break the rebel boss, Zapien, out of prison — all part of a rather lame scheme and plan to keep Worthington safe. Oh yeah, the music has returned with a vengeance. The action sequences are cliché but, in all honesty, they deliver the goods for an evening of cheesy action and heroics. At least there isn’t any macho posing because Ron’s ego doesn’t stretch to believing he has a muscular oiled body, thankfully. He does wear the world’s worst Granny knitted jumper at one point though, the kind given over at Christmas with a sly smile. Fuck, it’s so ugly as far as knit wear levels go.
We also get some vehicle chases and accompanied by more up-tempo pop rock, “Back — back in action…” Throughout the film we have a few flashbacks to show why Steve is so haunted and empty looking (nothing to do with the acting skills on show, but the loss of someone close to him, of course). He ends up with a traditional female companion, Maria, who knows how to use weaponry (not that sort, though I assume she does! I mean guns!)
Anyway, because he’s broken out such a high-profile prisoner, there’s a platoon load of soldiers hunting them now, lead by a bad ass shades wearing guy with a porno ‘stache. This leads to more chases, fights with that music blasting, capture, escape, heroic bloodshed, and a rather surprisingly downbeat conclusion.
Ron is okay, he’s a cookie cutter product of the era he operated in. A man who put his money where his mouth is and got involved in low budget flicks. If this is a standard example of his usual outputs, he’s delivering what you expect. Switch your head off action utilizing the skills of a trained martial artist.
Most of the cast do their duty. Many have hundreds of screen and TV credits in productions from their native lands. The one surprise is Laura Abeyta who plays Maria. One credit. This movie. Nah, that must need updating, she’s ok and surely must have starred in other things.
The Wolf is complete and in decent quality on YouTube under its other title, Jungle Wolf. Don’t go in expecting high-end Stallone and Chuck Norris style visuals and try not to sit back waiting for top notch acting. Instead, what you’ll find is a bag of fun and a few laughs. Remember the game though: you have to predict when the music is going to come in, then nod your head in time when you get it right. By the end, Willow’s and my necks were practically broken from how many times we did it!
AKA: Jungle Wolf, Terrorist Commando, Der Dschungelwolf, El lobo de la jungla
Directed by: Charlie Ordoñez
Written by: Ron L. Marchini, David Donaldson
Produced by: Ron L. Marchini
Cinematography by: Ramon Marcelino
Edited by: Garrick Huey, Augusto Salvador
Music by: Paul Kyriazi, Forrest Patten
Cast: Ron L Marchini, Laura Abeyta, Romy Diaz, Joonee Gamboa, Joe Meyer, Tony Tacorda
Year: 1987
Country: USA
Language: English
Colour: Colour
Runtime: 1h 25min
Studio: Romarc Inc.
Distributor: Trans World Entertainment
