EDITOR’S NOTE: As the journey through Cannon continues, this week we’re exploring the films of 21st Century Film Corporation, which would be the company that Menahem Golan would take over after Cannon. Formed by Tom Ward and Art Schweitzer in 1971 (or 1976, there are some disputed expert opinions), 21st Century had a great logo and released some wild stuff.

Thanks to Temple of Schlock, I now know that this movie — originally known as Long Hu Feng — was also titled The Needle Avenger, Dragon Tiger Phoenix and under the title Dragon vs. Needles of Death was released on both Planet Video and licensed to Continental Video for a double feature with Snake Fist Ninja/Shake Fist Fighter.

Directed and written by Kuo-Heng Chung, this is all about Chung(Kou Feng), a martial artist who skips training to teach himself how to throw needles. After running off with his master’s daughter Mei Lei (Wang Ping), he falls out of favor with the school — obviously — and starts smuggling salt before he has to work for the triads battle his former romantic rival Sammy (Chu Jun).

“Deadly Spikes Challenge Super Kung-Fu!” “A New Kung-Fu Demon is Unleashed!” Yes, this got all the 21st Century hype.

I’ve never seen a movie where someone learns how to throw nails at people before or one that presents him as the anti-hero, forced by his station in life to have to work for the enemy. Much like several other 21st Century kung fu releases, if you saw this in the theater, you may have been given a disco album

You can watch this on Tubi.