Cirio Santiago Movies

The makers of this '50s monster-movie throwback must have greatly enjoyed the Wisconsin-lensed Bog -- since this film lifts that regional clunker's premise in its entirety and merely transplants it into a pleasant Polynesian locale. Yet another prehistoric terror from the deep (i.e. diver in cheap latex suit) rises from its eons-long nap after being rudely awakened by boozy, dynamite-fishing locals, slinking among the swaying palms to snack on unsuspecting tourists. That is, until the local Sheriff (of course) teams up with the owner of a popular resort to stand around and talk a lot... and eventually put an end to the beast's bloodthirsty rampage. There's even a convenient reptile expert on hand to kick around pseudo-scientific nonsense and pad out the film's runtime with even more inane dialogue. For more Italian variations on the same tired theme, masochistic viewers may want to seek out Up from the Depths (from the same director, no less!) and Devilfish. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Following a nuclear holocaust, Alaska is turned into a desert ruled by a cruel tyrant. This sci-fi actioner chronicles the attempts of rebels to usurp him and free up water and other resources for others. Essentially, this is another knock-off of the "Mad Max" films. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Revenge and violence are the key motifs in this action film by Philippine director Cirio Santiago. Vince (Richard Young) is a Vietnam vet who has been a shade too brutal in his handling of some petty thieves. His actions rankle the murderous minds of the thieves, and they exact revenge by blowing up Vince's pleasure boat with his wife and child on board. Now fueled with hatred, Vince not only goes after the killers, but with the help of a military friend, he determines who it was that supplied the technical, explosive know-how to the punks who blew up the boat. It seems Vince had an enemy during the Vietnam war who is in league with the murderous thieves. Once the two sides have been defined, a kind of mini-war results. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

An amateur Mad Max copycat hoping to cash in on that trend, this weakly scripted actioner is set in a degenerate future time when a group of low-lifes terrorize everyone around. Led by a baddie named Scourge, the men kidnap and regularly rape the sister of the hero Trace (Gary Watkins). Trace gathers up some allies in Stinger (Laura Banks), a distaff bounty hunter and Spike (Linda Grovenor) a young clairvoyant girl, so he can charge in and rescue his sister. Between the three of them, the Scourge by any name is sure to be conquered. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Set in a future time after a nuclear holocaust, survivors battle each other over water, a key to both power and life in this low-budget, damp version of a Mad Max world. Stryker (Steve Sandor) joins forces with Delha (Andrea Savio) when she makes a decision to share her colony's fresh water supply with the neighboring settlements. Stryker's decision to throw in with Delha leads to some chug-along car chases, as his arch-nemesis Kardis (Michael Lane) has opposite views on the use of water. A smattering of beautiful women in a minimum of clothing, a tribe of lovable dwarfs, and a few requisite battle scenes fill in the time between chases. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Caged Fury is a cut above the usual torn-blouse Philippine prison picture, thanks to an intriguing gimmick. As has happened so many times before, a group of pneumatic lovelies, wearing the regulation halter tops and cutoffs, are herded together in a jungle stockade. This time, however, there's a mad scientist on the premise. The wacko medico's plan is to convert the lovely prisoners into zombielike human time bombs, programmed to destroy all enemies (and perhaps a few friends). The award-winning cast includes Bernadette Williams, Tafee O'Connell, and Jennifer Laine (watch your back, Meryl Streep!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A Vietnam veteran returns to America but finds difficulty in adjusting to normal life and controlling his violent impulses. This action drama follows the vet as he finds his way to New York, where his killer instinct finds a suitable outlet in a job as a hitman for the mob. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

This black-oriented women's prison film from Filipino director Cirio H. Santiago (T.N.T. Jackson) stars Playboy Playmates Rosanne Katon and Jeanne Bell as the leaders of a pirate gang who go undercover at a prison farm to save Bell's sister. As the wicked Serena, Jayne Kennedy cracks a whip and acts nasty until finally leading the obligatory insurrection. The prisoners pick coffee beans and the pirate women know kung-fu, making this one of the quirkier entries in the subgenre. Former Bond-girl Trina Parks (Diamonds Are Forever) and Santiago regular Ken Metcalfe co-star. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

In this Philippine martial-arts action feature, a certain Buddha statue has a substance contained in it that could lead to world domination by its owner. Martial artist Chiquito and a newlywed black American couple (James Iglehart and Shirley Washington) vacationing in Asia join forces to keep this awesome object from landing in the wrong hands. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Filipino action specialist Cirio H. Santiago directed this low-budget adventure starring former baseball star James Iglehart (Beyond the Valley of the Dolls), who is kidnapped by South American rebels. After a time, he sees their position and is joined by a female commando squad in battling the repressive government officials. Genre regulars Carol Speed, Ken Metcalfe, and Vic Diaz co-star in one of numerous, interchangeable Philippine actioners from Santiago and Roger Corman's New World Pictures. Iglehart returned in Cesare Gallardo's cult favorite Bamboo Gods and Iron Men (which Santiago produced) the following year. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi