The Oily Maniac

Original title: You gui zi

1976
1h 28m

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

YOUR RATING

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Superhero Action Crime Horror

A cripple takes revenge on criminals by using a magic spell that transforms him into an oily monster/superhero.A cripple takes revenge on criminals by using a magic spell that transforms him into an oily monster/superhero.A cripple takes revenge on criminals by using a magic spell that transforms him into an oily monster/superhero.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Based on the Malaysian legend of the orang minyak, or oily man, a supernatural creature born of crude oil and fueled by vengefulness towards those who wronged him, the film is a highly fictionalized take on the myth by Shaw Brothers studios, combined with elements from Hollywood slashers popular in Asia at the time. There had been at least three Malaysian film versions of the story prior: a trilogy comprising Curse of the Oily Man (1956), Orang Minyak (1958) and Serangan Orang Minyak (1958). He would turn up again many years later in Orang minyak (2007) and Pontianak vs. Orang Minyak (2012), the latter pitting the oily man against another figure from Malay folklore, a vengeful ghost woman.

Connections
References Jaws (1975)

User reviews16

Review

Featured review

6/10

The Oily Maniac: More entertaining than it should have been

This cheesy highly 70's Hong Kong feature immediately gives you the impression that you're going to regret watching it. From it's immensely 70's feel, terrible dialogue and cheesy plot I expected the worst and maybe that's why I came out the other end pleasantly surprised.

Don't get me wrong The Oily Maniac isn't exactly a great film but it's not terrible either.

Arguably a superhero movie our hero gains the ability to turn into The Oily Maniac whose powers are essentially to be a man made of *Wait for it* oil! Though the plot isn't exactly original our leading character certainly is and though you may find it laughable and perhaps hard to get behind the character it is definitely memorable.

This is a film I'd happily see a western remake of as the concept is a lot of fun. A bit of a higher budget to overcome the terrible 70's sfx and maybe make it either R rated or more tongue in cheek (This one doesn't know what it wants to be) Better yet here's an idea The Oily Maniac vs The Greasy Strangler Can you smell the potential? Make it happen Hollywood