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The Five Venoms
Movie

The Five Venoms

1978 • Unknown

Woke Score
1
out of 10

Plot

A dying master sends his last student to check up on five former pupils, who each know a special style of kung-fu.

Overall Series Review

The Five Venoms is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts mystery film from the Shaw Brothers studio. The narrative centers on a dying master’s last student, Yang Tieh, who is sent on a mission to identify and deal with five former pupils—each a master of a unique, deadly style (Centipede, Snake, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad)—who have gone into the world with new identities. The story is a straightforward martial arts detective thriller where the final student must deduce which of the former pupils are good and which are evil to prevent the school's treasure from falling into the wrong hands. The core theme is one of loyalty versus betrayal and good versus evil, with characters judged solely by their moral actions and mastery of their craft. The cast and focus are entirely on a male martial arts collective, with no injection of modern social or political commentary, making it a pure, action-driven period piece.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

The plot's central conflict revolves entirely around the moral character of the students—loyalty, greed, and the choice between good and evil—rather than any immutable characteristic. Characters are judged strictly by their merit in kung-fu and the moral content of their soul. The film is set in China and stars an all-Chinese cast, and the concept of 'whiteness' or forced diversity is entirely absent.

Oikophobia1/10

The film is a Hong Kong production set in a traditional Chinese context. The narrative focuses on an internal conflict within a martial arts clan and the fight against local corruption and criminality. There is no commentary, hostile or otherwise, toward Western civilization, one’s own home, or ancestors. The actions of the master and the loyal students are framed as upholding an established moral and familial code.

Feminism1/10

The core cast of the 'Venom Mob' is exclusively male, and the narrative focuses heavily on themes of male bonding, brotherhood, and the master-student dynamic within the martial arts clan. Women are almost entirely absent from the story and, consequently, there are no 'Mary Sue' or 'Girl Boss' tropes. Masculinity, in the form of martial prowess and loyalty, is the foundation of both the hero and villain archetypes.

LGBTQ+1/10

The film contains no themes, characters, or dialogue related to alternative sexualities, gender ideology, or the deconstruction of the nuclear family. The focus is exclusively on the fraternal relationships and combat within a closed, all-male martial arts group. Sexuality is not a relevant component of the plot or character definitions.

Anti-Theism1/10

The movie operates within a secular framework of martial arts honor, a master's dying wish, and personal moral choices. There is no presence of organized religion, specifically Christianity, to be criticized or vilified. Morality is clearly defined as objective: loyalty is good, and betrayal/murder/greed is evil.