Earlier this week, the martial arts thriller Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In was confirmed to be one of Hong Kong’s most popular movies as it almost swept the board at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards, taking home nine trophies. While definitely visually stunning and boasting fantastic action sequences, anyone who is familiar with Hong Kong cinema will know that triads, bloody fights, and the themes of loyalty and brotherhood have long been a prominent part of our film culture. Here are some other local movies to watch if you enjoyed Soi Cheang’s post-heroic bloodshed drama.
Long Arm of the Law (1984)
This may be a pretty old movie, but Johnny Mak’s Long Arm of the Law is a classic that can be seen as an ancestor of the various crime and gangster films that were to follow in Hong Kong cinema. Five men from mainland China cross into Hong Kong hoping to strike riches with a jewellery heist, but nothing goes according to plan as betrayal, car chases, murder, and spectacular violence plague the group. The film’s final 15 minutes are actually filmed in the old Kowloon Walled City, in a famous chase sequence and climatic showdown that shows how indiscriminately violent the police are as well, and remains one of the best finales in Hong Kong cinema.
Limbo (2021)
Before Twilight burst onto our screens, Soi Cheang had already directed Limbo, also an action thriller but much more dark – literally, as the film is in stark black and white. If you thought the Kowloon Walled City looked bleak, the Hong Kong in Limbo is even more claustrophobic and dank, with the rain cascading down onto both piles of trash and discarded people alike. Violent beatdowns, gang crime, dismemberment, weary cops: this urban noir film has got them all. It’s not an easy watch, but Limbo shows a Hong Kong that is as aesthetic as it is depressing.
Chasing the Dragon (2017)
This action crime drama by prolific Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Jing is a remake of To Be Number One (1991), and tells the story of the real-life gangster Ng Sik-ho. Donnie Yen plays the illegal immigrant from mainland China who makes his way into 60s-era Hong Kong and transforms himself into the drug lord called Crippled Ho, while Andy Lau reprises his role as police officer Lee Rock from the Lee Rock film series. But things are not that clear cut, as Crippled Ho is portrayed as a half-decent dude, while Lee Rock is a half-corrupt cop, and they both meet halfway in the grey middle while getting revenge.
Paradox (2017)
The third film in the Sha Po Lang film series, Wilson Yip’s Paradox has parallels with Twilight as it was Cheang who co-produced it, with Sammo Hung doing the action choreography and Louis Koo starring in the leading role. The neo-noir action flick follows Koo’s police inspector who searches for his missing daughter in Thailand, which leads to the discovery of human trafficking, corrupt officials, awful truths, and plenty of death and destruction. Thai martial artist and actor Tony Jaa also stars as Lee’s detective friend, so you can expect the action sequences to be spectacular. Koo also won multiple Best Actor awards for this film.
I’m Livin’ It (2019)
While on the surface very different to the dramatic action of Twilight and the other triad movies on this list, Danny Wong’s directorial debut I’m Livin’ It also deals with poverty, the fringes of society, and how a bunch of people down on their luck can band together for survival. Aaron Kwok’s character is a former finance bro incarcerated for embezzlement and has since become a McRefugee – a homeless person who spends the night in 24-hour McDonald’s branches. He meets a group of similarly disadvantaged people, including a teenage runaway, a has-been singer, a street artist, an old man with dementia, and more. Wong takes care not to exploit or fetishise the true circumstances of McRefugees, instead weaving together harsh, humanised, and nuanced stories.
Check out our list of Hong Kong’s best 100 movies while you’re at it.
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