Pray for Death (1985)

Nomination Year: 1992

SYNOPSIS: Mr. Saito has two young sons, one of whom accidentally obtains some information about the dirty doings of an international Mafia don. In order to regain the trinket with the info, the mob boss begins to torment the Saito family: death threats, kidnapping, and making a general nuisance of himself. But what Mr. Mafia doesn't know is that Saito is an ex-Master Ninja! The big birthday bash for the don gets a surprise crash visitor, who, despite the heavy goon-squad security, comes right up behind him and whispers: "Stay away from the Saito family. If you touch them...you will PRAY FOR DEATH!" Does this faze the mobster? No! He wants that ninja's head on a platter -- whoever it is. You can probably write the rest of the story yourself.

Bryan Cassidy

Smithee Award Nominations

Oblivious

How Many Ninja Masters Did He Piss Off This Week, Anyway?

In the final fight scene, Our Ninja Hero soundly trounces the outclassed mob boss. The battle ends up at a sawmill and finally, Saito pins his opponent to a log that's heading for the big, big blade. It's like the climax of an old silent film, with a twist: an old, ugly mobster playing the part of the sweet heroine. His opponent helpless and heading toward the saw, the ninja removes his mask. The bad guy is blatantly shocked to discover that the ninja who's been kicking his ass is the father of the very family he's been persecuting! I mean, was there any doubt? The guy has the same height, build, VOICE, for crying out loud. As the spinning blade approaches closer and closer, the baddie yells: "Kill me! Kill me!" Yeah, that's about what I was thinking at that point, myself.

Sorry, this clip has not yet been made available!

Directors

Director	Claim to Fame
Gordon Hessler

Cast

Actor	Character	Claim to Fame
Shô Kosugi	<Not Yet in Database>	One of the most famous martial artists on film; Hosts his own "Ninja Theater" series of movies.
James Booth	<Not Yet in Database>	Appears in Smithee films now and then.
Donna Kei Benz	<Not Yet in Database>
Norman Burton	<Not Yet in Database>
Kane Kosugi	<Not Yet in Database>	Son of renowned martial artist Shô
Shane Kosugi	<Not Yet in Database>	Son of renowned martial artist Shô
Robert Ito	<Not Yet in Database>


[Smithee Film Gallery]		[Return to Lobby]