CHIN YAN (THE BEAST STALKER)
Hong Kong, 2008, 109 minutes, Colour.
Nicholas Tse, Jingchu Zhang, Nick Cheung.
Directed by Dante Lam.
A first film by a poetically named, Dante Lam. While he does have a strong visual eye for some poetics, they tend to be the choreography of chases, car and crashes as well as action fights.
There is now a substantial tradition for Hong Kong police thrillers, established by such veterans as John Woo, Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark and Johnny To. It looks as though Dante Lam wants to be part of the next generation in this tradition.
What distinguishes this film from others in the genre is the accidental death in a shoot-out crash of the young daughter of a prosecutor and the abduction of her other daughter to blackmail her into destroying blood sample evidence in her case. Tong, the young abrasive policeman who was involved in the accident takes on the role of rescuer of the little girl of whom he has become fond.
There is quite some tension and audiences will be fearful of the fate of the little girl.
Not a bad addition to the genre.
1.The tradition of Hong Kong police thrillers? Action? The classics of the 1990s? The new generation?
2.Hong Kong City, the police, the streets and buildings, the courts? The abandoned warehouses? Realism? The pulsing score?
3.Crime in Hong Kong, the gangs, the bosses, thugs, assassins? Seeing the police in action?
4.The police, their work, training, tensions amongst themselves? The opening and the breakfast discussion, going on the case?
5.The pursuit of the criminal, the entry, the guns, chases, car crashes, injuries, the cars flipping, the little girl killed in the boot of the car, the mother’s grief?
6.The explanations coming later in the film, the presence of the mother and daughter, the end explanation of Hung and his wife present at the accident?
7.Sergeant Tong, in charge of the group, abrasive, young and impetuous, roaring out his cousin, Sun and his injuries and his concern? His decisions in the car chase, the death of the girl?
8.The case, Anne and her being the prosecutor, the officials deciding that she should go ahead? The evidence, the kidnapping of her other daughter, the message to destroy the blood sample? Anne in herself, her relationship with her husband, the clashes, her not being able to tell him about the abduction? Her fear, love for her daughter? Her antipathy towards Tong?
9.Tong, in action, three months after the accident, Ling and her drawing, his drawing with her, the abduction and his being present, the chasing of Hung, fighting with him? Knocked out? Trying to track Hung, the SIM card and the search in the garbage, the clue, the red neon reflection in the mobile phone photo? Sun, his injuries but his help, going to his cousin, the apology, getting the information? Anne not wanting him to pursue the case?
10.Hung, an assassin, the damage to his eyes, his stubbornness, the debts and the demands made on him to pay his debts, the abduction, his wife and the injuries, his care for her, her medicines? Taking Ling, imprisoning her, her resistance, knocking the pills, his not being able to see the colours, Ling helping him to put them in order? His taking her away, going to the desalination plant?
11.Hung and his orders, the doctor and his attempt to cut Ling’s hand? Saved by the phone, the bargaining for Ling instead of Hung’s wife? The wife, helping Ling? The ambulance? Hung taking over?
12.Tong and his character, his pursuit of the girl, persuading Anne, his cousin, Sun? The pursuit? Climbing the building with the neon light, finding Hung and Ling gone, going to the desalination plant?
13.The final confrontation, the fight, Ling, the material falling on her and smothering her? Tong helping, Hung going blind?
14.Hung’s wife, Anne and her anger, the wife helping Ling untie the ropes – and the flashbacks explaining the wife, her toughness, being in the car with Hunt, the accident?
15.The resolution, a satisfying end to this kind of crime, police and abduction thriller?
