One of the best old school kung fu films I have ever seen. Not only does it have great martial arts action it has really good characters and suspense. The direction is technical and has a visual style that is above and beyond many movies of it's nature.

A dying master gives one final request to his last student to check on the activities of his five best students. Each of the five are equipped with a lethal martial arts skill: The Centipede, Snake, Scorpion, Lizard, and the Toad. The master knows not the identities of his former students because each of them wore a mask signifying their special style. The styles are very deadly and the master regrets teaching them and fears that some of the "five" may be using the skills for evil purposes. Besides just knowing only little of each fighting style, the young student has the challenge of finding these vipers hidden in normal society. The young student must find and team up with the good ones to destroy the evil ones, but who can he trust?

It took me years of waiting for a nice clean DVD transfer of this kung fu classic. A real must see. This film also has a major influence on the KILL BILL films, the reason I sought it out in the first place. Helpful hint: do not watch dubbed, at least for the first time.

As far as old school kung fu films go I give FIVE DEADLY VENOMS a solid A!