Is Thou Shall Not Kill... But Once Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1975)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of Thou Shall Not Kill... But Once (1975), audiences are invited back into the world of Action, Drama. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Yao Hao (Chen Sing), is a young man whose father was assassinated and whose mother was killed in an attack on the funeral procession. He survives the attack and winds up at a Shaolin temple where he insists he wants to stay and become a monk. His beautiful fiancée (Lu Shu Chin) pleads with him to come back with her, but he refuses. The head monk, Brother Fa (Chan Wai Man), an orphan who's been at the monastery all his life and is expecting to succeed the current Shaolin Abbot, is jealous of the privileges Yao Hao has had in life and asks him questions about the outside world, including what it's like to touch a woman. Brother Fa's weakening resolve soon finds him leaving the monastery and falling into the clutches of Lord Eagle (Kam Kong), the Manchu ruler in the area who's trying to wipe out all resistance to Manchu/Ching rule."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. While not a career-best, Chan Sing's presence adds a necessary stability to the proceedings. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Action. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Thou Shall Not Kill... But Once worth your time? If you appreciate Action, Drama films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Thou Shall Not Kill... But Once is a mixed bag with some redeeming qualities. With a runtime of 81 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.