The One-Armed Swordsman is now a Shaolin Monk. It's real.
Abbot of Shaolin, also known as Slice of Death in the English dub, is a 1979 Shaw Brothers film starring David Chiang and Lo Lieh, and one of the first (of many) "Shaolin"-themed martial arts films released after The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.
In the aftermath of the Shaolin Temple's destruction by Manchu invaders, Monk Chi-san (a shaved David Chiang) is the only survivor of the massacre of Shaolin monks. Entrusted by the dying Head Abbot of Shaolin to seek their supporters in the South, the resistance army who opposes the Manchurians, Chi-san embarks on a journey while gathering supporters along the way. But Chi-san's travels is impeded by rivals from the Wu Tang clan, led by the deadly Master Pai-mei (Lo Lieh, who had played the role in an Alternate Continuity in the Executioners from Shaolin, and would play Pai Mei a third and final time in the following year's Fists of the White Lotus).
Abbot of Shaolin contains examples of:
- Achilles' Heel: The sole weak point of Pai Mei is a Pressure Point on his chest and two on his temple; in the climax Chi-san managed to hit the latter two first, which is enough to paralyze Pai Mei for a few seconds, allowing Chi-san to land a killing strike through the chest's weak spot.
- Action Girl: Wu Mei of the Wu Tang Clan, a lady martial artist who can fight better than most men.
- Arch-Enemy: Master Pai Mei, a Northern Lama who opposes of the Shaolin, and is the sworn nemesis of Chi-san due to Pai Mei leading the Manchu invaders in the massacre of various Shaolin sects.
- Battle Amongst the Flames: Early on in the film, there is a battle between Shaolin monks and Manchu soldiers in the burning Shaolin Temple.
- Coffin Contraband: Monk Chi-san infiltrates a city checkpoint by hiding in a coffin carried by his allies, whom are posing as mourners. Unfortunately, it doesn't work.
- Covers Always Lie: The English-dubbed DVD cover shows a mustached man in green wielding a sword
, which have no bearing on the film at all. It also leaves out protagonist Monk Chi-san, the villainous Pai Mei, the Shaolin Temple, or anything remotely resembling the theme of "Shaolin". - Defector from Decadence: This is the reason why Wu Mei, the Wu Tang disciple, would betray Pai Mei and support Chi-san, due to being shocked at Pai Mei's betrayal of the Wu Tang.
- Duel to the Death: The film ends satisfyingly with the climax being Monk Chi-san and Master Pai Mei, with Chi-san winning.
- Eye Scream: Right before Pai Mei's Klingon Promotion by killing the former Wu Tang Abbot, Wu Chan, Pai Mei rips out both of Chan's eyes with his bare hands.
- La Résistance: The rebels opposing the Manchu reign, which Chi-san must seek in order to find support in avenging the Shaolin massacre.
- Last Request: In the aftermath of the temple massacre, the head abbot, mortally wounded, requests for Monk Chi-san to travel to south to rendezvous with the supporters of Shaolin, who opposes the Manchu tyranny, and to help rebuild the Shaolin monastery.
- Light Is Not Good: Played straight with the Big Bad, the constantly white-clad Pai Mei.
- Martial Pacifist: Subverted with Monk Chi-san; he is a pacifist for most of the film, preferring peace over violence despite the atrocities committed by the Manchu invaders, but at the final standoff, he expertly slays several Manchu soldiers and engages Pai Mei in fierce, direct combat. And wins.
- Nigh-Invulnerability: Pai Mei, who had mastered the skill of the Golden Vest, absorbs every single blow from Chi-san without flinching even once. It takes Chi-san several attempts to finally breach his sole weak spot long enough for a killing blow.
- The Pen Is Mightier: Pai Mei's weapon is a giant Fúchén (horsetail whisk), the brush-like weapon that shows up so often in martial arts movies. Something like this. Don't be fooled though, during the film he slashed several people to death using the brush-end of the whisk, which is apparently Razor Floss.
- Secret Underground Passage: The Shaolin Monks in the temple massacre scenes tries escaping using one of these located in the back of the temple, but it unfortunately leads to an underground cavern whose only exit is a well... surrounded by Manchu soldiers. Things doesn't go well as the Manchu soldiers locate their hideout and attempts to flush out the monks by flinging dynamites down the well.
- Sole Survivor: Monk Chi-san is the only monk that survive the Shaolin Temple's destruction and massacre in the opening battle.
- Trivial Title: Yeah, the titular Abbot? Dead in the first act.
