While the heyday of the Hong Kong filmmaking industry may be a thing of the past, it is nonetheless still a prolific and profitable industry, and though they may be fewer and further between, there are still gems released from time to time, reminding audiences why Hong Kong cinema has always had a prominent voice in the world of film.
Though Hong Kong filmmaking has much to offer, the genre most audiences tend to associate it with is that of martial arts action, and with Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, director Soi Cheang succeeds in injecting a thrilling action film with ample amounts of both heart and panache.
Based on Yuyi’s novel City of Darkness and Andy Seto’s manhua of the same name, the film tells the story of an illegal immigrant trying to survive in 1980’s Hong Kong, which soon sees him embroiled in conflict with a triad gang until he happens to stumble into Kowloon Walled City.
Here, he not only finds sanctuary, but also community and friendship, which only raises the stakes for all involved when things eventually come to a head, and scores past and present must be settled.
Being a box office smash hit in Hong Kong and having been picked up for wider release in the West, the film has struck a nerve with audiences thanks to its impressive production design, engaging cast, and great action.
What makes the film stand out in particular is how the more fantastical elements in portions of the action sequences mix exceedingly well with a Kowloon Walled City that has been recreated with an astonishing attention to detail, effectively grounding the fantastical by juxtaposing it against a very tangible setting.
The action direction is top tier, with Kenji Tanigaki – Donnie Yen’s longtime collaborator – masterminding the choreography, giving each character a distinct style that not only ensures well-realized action, but also adds to the characterization of each character.
However, the most compelling aspect of the film is the drama, as the film takes plenty of time to breathe between action set pieces, building a world where the emotional lives of the characters add an unusual sense of gravitas for the genre, making the action as meaningful as it is entertaining.
Mixing the operatic with the contemporary, the narrative style relies on classic Hong Kong cinema themes such a as honor among triads, but what elevates the film is the amount of heart in multiple aspects of the production, as well as the great chemistry between the four younger characters in particular bringing a warmth to their on-screen friendship that is seldomly this sincere.
Louis Koo, Richie Jen, and the legend that is Sammo Hung all play to their individual strengths as actors with their portrayals of various archetypes of triad bosses, but the ultimate scene stealer is undoubtedly Philip Ng, whose giggling henchman character King is a dastardly psychopathic villain for the ages.
Having taken audiences by storm, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is some of the best action to come out of Hong Kong in years, and with both a prequel and sequel on the way, here’s hoping that Soi Cheang manages to expand on this story in an equally satisfying manner, as it would make it one of the best martial arts action franchises in recent memory.
Verdict: 10 out of 10.
* * * * *
Produced by John Chong, Wilson Yip
Screenplay by Au Kin-yee, Shum Kwan-sin, Chan Taili, Lai Chun
Based on City of Darkness by Yuyi
Directed by Soi Cheang
Starring Louis Koo, Sammo Hung, Richie Jen, Raymond Lam,
Terrance Lau, Kenny Wong, Philip Ng, Tony Wu, German Cheung
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