The Last Kumite

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The Last Kumite
The Last Kumite
Directed by Ross W. Clarkson
Written bySean David Lowe
Ross W. Clarkson
Produced bySean David Lowe
Wayne A. Graves
Starring Mathis Landwehr
Kurt McKinney
Billy Blanks
CinematographyRoss W. Clarkson
Edited byOliver Harper
Music by Paul Hertzog
Stan Bush
Production
companies
Lowe Media & Quest Media
Capelight Pictures
Distributed byCapelight Pictures
MPI Media Group (USA)
Release dates
  • 9 May 2024 (2024-05-09)(Germany)
  • 14 May 2024 (2024-05-14)(United States)
Running time
105 minutes
CountriesGermany
United States
LanguageEnglish

The Last Kumite is a Kickstarter-funded 2024 low-budget martial arts film. It is directed by Ross W. Clarkson [1] with a soundtrack by Paul Hertzog and Stan Bush. It is an homage to popular action movies of the last century.

Contents

Plot

Martial artist Michael Rivers wins an official martial arts competition, attracting the attention of Ron Hall, a promoter. Hall, also a human trafficker who does business mainly in Eastern Europe, invites Rivers to compete in an underground tournament in Bulgaria for a million dollar prize. Rivers, who has already decided to retire, declines the offer.

Hall needs to recruit challengers to face infamous underground champion Dracko, who is in the habit of crippling and killing his defeated opponents; he kidnaps Rivers' daughter Bree to force him to participate. On Rivers' arrival in Bulgaria, he meets Damon Spears and Lea Martin, other fighters who have been blackmailed out of retirement in a similar manner. They team up to save their family members during the tournament. Other martial artists Master Loren, whose wife was murdered and daughter kidnapped by Ron Hall, "Lightning", and Dracko's former Sensei Julie Jackson prepare Rivers for victory.

Production

In August 2023, Capelight Pictures released a 4K UHD DVD version of Bloodsport , which included a variety of features. [2] As Bloodsport proved to be still popular, Capelight re-invested some money in a Kickstarter project titled The Last Kumite, "inspired by the likes of Bloodsport, Kickboxer and No Retreat, No Surrender ". [3]

Cast

Bolo Yeung's son David Yeung also appears in the film. [5] [6]

Soundtrack

Paul Hertzog composed the score, with added songs by Stan Bush. Hertzog described their renewed cooperation as "a bit of a nostalgic nod to Bloodsport and Kickboxer". [7] [8]

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References

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  4. "Mike D. Vecchio". wrestlingdata.com. 4 June 2023. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  5. Godfrey, Jake (13 December 2014). "The Last Kumite: Trailer released for martial arts legends film". filmstories.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  6. "The Last Kumite". fareastfilms.com. 26 May 2024. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  7. "News". Paul Hertzog Homepage. 1 June 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  8. ""No Surrender" Drops in May, 2024!". Stan Bush Homepage. 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.