Wichita cult classic ‘King Kung Fu’ conquers again – this time in glorious 4K
It’s not every day that a delightfully absurd oddity from the 1970s resurfaces in sharp, 4K clarity — but that’s exactly the twist in the tale of “King Kung Fu,” the made-in-Wichita cult comedy spoof blending slapstick satire, and a karate-trained gorilla. Yeah, you read that right. A karate-trained gorilla.
It will be released on Blu-Ray on Aug. 26 by online distributor Reel Vault. Directed by Lance D. Hayes, “King Kung Fu” was an ambitious – especially for its time – labor of love. Production began in the mid-1970s but due to some roadblocks wasn’t completed until 1987. The plot follows Jungle Jumper, a Chinese gorilla trained in martial arts (again, you read that right), sent to the U.S. in a goodwill gesture. When the gorilla escapes and chaos ensues, the chase leads through Wichita — including a finale atop the towering then-Holiday Inn, sort of equivalent to the more well known King Kong’s Empire State Building moment.
Despite its modest budget of around a reportedly $300,000 and its slapstick low-budget pedigree, the film cultivated a cult following, eventually securing a DVD release and maintaining a niche charm among genre aficionados.
The newly restored version promises superior clarity, faithful color, and the kind of crystal-clear mayhem only a kung-fu-trained gorilla can deliver.
Extras include a making-of short titled “Simianscope: The Making of King Kung Fu” by Nathan Light, along with optional English subtitles, and region-free playback, making it accessible to collectors worldwide.
In the world of cult cinema, few films are more precious precisely because of their zaniness and obscurity. The leap from scratchy home-tapes to a polished 4K presentation offers something more than technical fidelity — it’s akin to unearthing buried comedy gold and polishing it to gleam with renewed absurdity.
This release isn’t merely retro novelty — it’s a celebration of analog ingenuity, slapstick surrealism, and local Wichita filmmaking when that just wasn’t done.
The film is, of course, delightfully ridiculous, and bad in a good way. That’s really a compliment. It’s also a testament to the grit and determination of do-it-yourself filmmaking (especially since it was shot on actual film). It features a sprawling cast of more than 40 speaking parts, and was produced by Bob Walterscheid.
Best quote: “As you can see, Wichita is located in the center of this great country of ours and it means quite simply we have him surrounded.”
Reach Rod Pocowatchit at rodrick@rawdzilla.com.