While being a true Corman flick, with his share of breasts, cliche' dialogue, super-hero cops and stereotyped foreign villains, the film still manages very strong moments and scenes of genuine emotional impact. These moments of "true" human drama are intermixed with over-the-top, sword-swinging action and adrenaline-charged martial arts sequences. The odd coexistence of typical elements of Corman's B-movies with straight in-your-face drama and subtle irony is pulled together by a stylish cinematography that, at times, seems to support the full dramatic element of the film while, often, shifts towards a cartoonish and surreal style that seems to actually negate the seriousness of the events. The film's tone, therefore, constantly shifts from truly dramatic to moments where things are purposely exaggerated and off-the wall, seemingly mocking the "noir" genre. One moment you are emotionally involved in the characters' pain, then the next scene mocks the viewer saying "it's all a big joke!". It is this clever, constant stylistic shift, combined with break-neck action, that make this film worth watching.
Review of Hard As Nails
