1 out of 5 - Would Recommend: The Super Inframan

Welcome back to 1 out of 5 – Would Recommend, where weird foreign knock-offs are appreciated. Today, you’ll learn about the 1975 melding of Tokusatsu and Shaw Brothers chopsocky, The Super Inframan!

What’s The Plot?

When an army of monsters from Earth’s core wages war on mankind, Earth’s most brilliant scientist turns a member of its defense forces into the mighty cyborg Inframan! With his solar ray, thunderball fists, and unexplained ability to grow to giant size, it’s up to The Super Inframan to save all mankind!

Who Made This Work of Genius?

The Shaw Brothers, the prolific kung-fu movie producers whose work would go on to inspire the likes of Quentin Tarantino and The RZA. But what’s just as important here is what they were cribbing from here: Japanese Tokusatsu super-heroes shows, most specifically Kamen Rider and Ultraman. If your interests align just right, that makes this a true peanut butter cup of 70’s pop culture.

Five Reasons to See It

You can watch it subbed or dubbed. Subtitled, a direct translation of the original Mandarin, the villain’s name is Princess Elzebub. Dubbed in English, where names were changed a bit for the audience’s sake, her name is nonsensically changed to Princess Dragon Mom.
The significantly less than $6 Million Man!
The foot soldiers in Princess Demon Mom’s army explode if they are shot or punched hard enough, which limits their effectiveness as a fighting force.
The hero’s cuts off the final boss’s head three times in quick succession before deciding he needs to try a new strategy.
It’s a solid Shaw Bros. chopsocky flick, even if a lot of kung fu action is done by stuntmen lumbering around in rubber suits.
“Greetings to you, Earthlings, I am Princess Dragon Mom. I have taken over this planet, now I own the Earth and you’ll be my slaves for all eternity.”

Recommendation

If you enjoy cheesy 70’s Kung-Fu flicks, you’ll enjoy Super Inframan. If you like 70’s tokusatsu, like Ultraman or Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot, you’ll like Super Inframan. If you enjoy both of those things, you’ll be in utter heaven watching Super Inframan. If you don’t enjoy either of those two things, you might not have a soul or an imagination.

NEXT WEEK: We take an overdue trip to The Asylum with their mockbuster hit, the newly released Avengers Grimm.