Night Shadow (1989) 6 out of 10 ⭐ This movie was totally awesome (especially for the low, low budget)

 This movie was totally awesome! 6 out of 10 ⭐'s (on the low budget scale)

Stuart Quan as Tai Jung

Stuart Quan steals the show as Tai Jung, but there's not really an epic fail from any of the actors (especially considering the budget). It's very much an atmospheric (then or now), and the little town of Danford is an additional character that shines. 

Tai's shirt everyone hates

Tai's "Lazy Guy's Club" shirt

I don't know why everyone is hating on Tai's half shirts, he wears them to show off his totally rad body! Duh! I love that one of them says, "Lazy Guy's Club" since that's exactly what he and his three friends are (except when it comes to Tai's martial arts hiiii-yaaaa). 

Back in the '80's, we could laugh at, and make fun of -stereotypes, which is why you get a five minute scene of Tai going all Kung-Fu on a bunch of rotten bikers. We didn't take offense, (or even feel the need to mention) that an Asian guy knows martial arts, or that Dean (played by Kato Kaelin), a white guy knows a lot about baseball. We were all in on the joke, and had a great time (something the whole world is missing now with the PC police).

Rick Scott as The Hitcher/Werewolf

Rick Scott as The Hitcher/Werewolf

Rick Scott was perfectly cast as The Werewolf/ Mysterious Stranger. Since this movie walks the line of old Western/Modern horror, he's perfect as the drifter, who slides into town with evil intent. There are some hints that he followed Alex Jung (Brenda Vance) here from LA, although that part of the storyline is never really flushed out. The movie intimates that there's a past life connection between Alex, Tai and the monster, but it never really goes anywhere.

The Creature

The only problem I have with this movie is the idiot police persecuting hometown kids. Small towns are insular, and the cops would be way more interested in the bikers (or a passing stranger), than in Tai, or his goofy friends. Small towns will do anything to keep their sense of safety, it ALWAYS has to be the outsider. This one script point is the only real problem here.

This movie is part old Western, part monster flick, and now, it's also a nostalgia-fest. Enjoy!