Oily Maniac – You gui zi (1976)

Directed by: Meng Hwa-Ho | 84 minutes | action, horror | Actors: Ping Chen, Alan Chui Chung Sang, Hsia Hsu, Pei Chi Huang, Feng Ku, Man Wa Lam, Chiu Lee, Danny Lee, Li-Li Li, Hui-Ling Liu, Terry Liu, Chen Tien Loong, Fat Tsui, Lam Tung, Wang Wai, Chiang Wang, Han Chen Wang, Frankie Wei, Hap Wong, Shi-Kwan Yeng, Chien Yu, Cheung-Yan Yuen, Corey Yuen, Woo-Ping Yuen

‘Oily Maniac’ is an at times somewhat strange mixture of horror, kung fu and action. The story itself is not that much and shows a lot of similarities with the superhero stories from the United States. Leading character Sheng Yung is a crippled lawyer who is unhappy with himself and feels not taken seriously both personally and professionally. When he then has to passively watch as his uncle is wrongly sentenced to death, his uncle Yeng gives an ancient secret formula for his execution. The spell proves to work and every time Yeng comes into contact with oil, he transforms into an oil monster with superhuman powers. Yeng uses his newfound powers to fight crime and end the injustice he sees all around him. He deals with his rogue boss, who is not averse to extorting people or accepting bribes for his own personal gain, and Yeng takes on the men who were behind his uncle’s conviction. According to the makers, the main message of the film is the fact that justice always prevails in the end, a moralistic message that is typical of the superhero film genre. An everyday person, or in this case even someone with serious physical infirmities, takes on a different form and is thus able to give the criminals who are able to slip through the cracks of the legal net their just punishment.

‘Oily Maniac’ is in all respects a typical B-movie that was clearly made on a limited budget. All the elements that are generally characteristic of such films can also be discerned in this film. A wafer-thin story, mediocre acting, superficial and stereotypical characters and cheap and unrealistic looking special effects, these are all things that also apply to ‘Oily Maniac’. Only the fight scenes look, according to good Asian custom, at times well cared for. The music that always comes before the ‘Oily Maniac’ pops up, is very reminiscent of the famous tune from Jaws that heralds an attack of the great white shark.

‘Oily Maniac’ is a film that clearly has the necessary shortcomings and only just manages to escape the predicate pulp. And yet, despite all its flaws, this production remains a fun cult film. Perhaps it is the charm of the superhero theme, the story of the sympathetic underdog who, against all logic, puts an end to the injustice in the world, that appeals. Fans of films like Godzilla (the Japanese versions) or Swamp Thing will also appreciate this production, as well as fans of strange underground films that can be summarized under the heading of light horror. Viewers looking for a typical blockbuster or serious film with a lot of depth will probably not enjoy this movie.