Rendezvous with Death is a 1980 Shaw Brothers wuxia film directed by Sun Chung, starring Wong-Yue, Chen Kuan-tai, Lo Lieh, Tang Ching, and Lam Sau-Kwan.
An expert warrior, Hsin-Hsuan (lit. "Despair"), who made a name of himself by killing every challenger that crosses path with him caught the attention of a warlord, Lord Yan. The warlord decide to employ Hsin for a potential Suicide Mission, to deliver a mysterious sealed package to the Imperial Capital on the warlord's behalf. But as luck would have it, various bandits, assassins and killers in the martial world wants the package for themselves as well, and Hsin realize his mission is a set-up. Given the title of the movie though, is that a surprise?
Rendezvous with Tropers:
- Action Prologue: Hsin-Hsuan vs. the Four Killers.
- Arrow Catch: Hsin-Hsuan, in order to prove his worthiness of undertaking a quest, must dodge three arrows fired by Lord Yan. Managed to dodge the first two until he lands on a ceiling, and when trapped in that area, he instead uses his cool umbrella to catch the third.
- Challenge Seeker: Hsin-Hsuan, who enjoys challenging elite killers in duels to their deaths in the martial world for the thrill of it.
- Conveniently Timed Attack from Behind: How Master Gu meets his end in the final duel, getting a sword in his back from Shui Xian-Hsia just as he's about to kill Hsin-Hsuan.
- Duel to the Death: Several times when Hsin-Hsuan and his challengers dukes it out, notably against Yang Feng and Golden Rod Gu Fei-tian.
- Flash Step: The method used by Hsin-Hsuan to dodge the first of two arrows fired by Lord Yan.
- Hidden Villain: Golden Rod Gu Fei-tian is the main villain of the picture, whose identity isn't made clear until twenty minutes before the end credits.
- In a Single Bound: Yes, considering this film is a wuxia. Notably, this is how Hsin-Hsuan escapes after beign cornered by several of Lord Yan's soldiers by leaping over their heads in a single jump, crossing the courtyard and landing on top of a wall where he then traverses to the other side.
- Ironic Nickname: The protagonist is named Hsin-Hsuan - "Despair", but yet he is a jovial, easygoing, happy person who frequently snarks at his enemies during combat and tends to constantly goof off during his screentime.
- Kansas City Shuffle: Hsin-Hsuan's mission to deliver a package on behalf of Lord Yan to the Imperial city turns out to be rigged. The package contain nothing but bricks and paper. Hsin's role in the mission is a mere decoy, for Master Gu, who is allied with the Minister, to deliver the real package to the Capital city for a promotion. Needless to say, Hsin is furious at the revelation.
- Karma Houdini: Lord Yan, the Minister responsible for manipulating Hsin-Hsuan into going on a pointless mission is the only major villain who never faced any comeuppance onscreen.
- Macguffin Escort Mission: Hsin-Hsuan's mission, entrusted by Lord Yan into delivering a mysterious package to the Capital city.
- MockGuffin: The mysterious package Hsin-Hsuan is sent to deliver? It's full of bricks and paper.
- Parasol of Pain: Hsin-Hsuan's weapon is his umbrella, whose surface, made of metallic silk and can deflect and absorb swords and spears thrushed at his direction. The 'brella's tip is a fine pointed spike, and the inner tube contains a stiletto sword. Right in the opening scene, Hsin demonstrates how good he is as a killer using this weapon by killing the Four Killers in an extensive fight scene.
- Throwing Your Sword Always Works: In the finale, this is how Shui Xian-Hua kills Golden Rod Gu, hitting him In the Back just as he's on the verge of overpowering Hsin-Hsuan.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: The Four Killers who answered Hsin-Hsuan's challenge in the opening scene dies a few minutes after the opening titles.
- The World's Expert (on Getting Killed): The Four Killers of the jianghu, supposedly the most renown, famed elite assassins in the martial arts world, all died in their first fight scene against the hero.
- Wuxia
