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Cast:
Tsang
Kong
Lam
Wai
Pai
Piao
Fan
Mei Sheng
Yi
Yuen San
Guk
Fung
Chang
Tin Ho
Hwang
Jang Lee
Producer:
Fan
Mei Sheng
Director:
Yuen
Cheung Yan
Score:
 
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DARKSIDE
OF CHINATOWN
AKA:
Dark Side Of China Town
Year:
1989 Reviewer: Tony
Ryan
My
initial reaction to this film was very mixed. In knowing that
the director was Yuen Cheung Yan (Woo Ping's brother and
action director of 'Iron
Monkey' etc...) I was expecting another exercise in
martial art filmmaking within a modern day setting. However,
what I actually watched was a very brutal drama featuring
little in the way of real martial arts, instead opting for
short bursts of realistic, graphic violence.
The
story follows Joe - a young Chinese boy who, having been sent
to the States to be educated, grows up in a poor, rough
neighbourhood mixing with gangs and delinquents, continually
involved in petty crimes and street fights with other local
youths. On one occasion, Joe and his friends attempt to rob a
gambling house, which inadvertently becomes violent and a
number of innocent people are killed. He seeks help from a
friend of his father's who was entrusted with looking after
him, and they flee the police returning to Hong Kong.
Unfortunately, amongst the money they stole was an important
logbook belonging to a local syndicate boss. The boss and his
heartless crew follow Joe back to Hong Kong, and waste no time
killing anyone who gets in their way.
Although
this type of story has been used to link action scenes
together along the years, here it is treated almost purely as
a dramatic exercise. Often harrowing, and unpleasant to watch,
the characters become even more desperate as time goes on, and
a happy ending is not forthcoming. The cast all perform
admirably, but show little range as the story requires them to
be either constantly scared or unhappy. Hwang Jang Lee turns
up as one of the henchman, but gets little opportunity to show
what he can do.
A
movie worth seeing if you need bringing down a peg or two, but
not recommended for those with a depressive nature. An example
of the kind of film Hollywood would never produce, but not a
prime example of Hong Kong style either.
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