The Beast Stalker

Opening with a thrilling police chase which results in an impressive slow motion pile-up, director Dante (The Twins Effect) Lam’s latest is a stylish but ultimately unspectacular entry in the Hong Kong gangster genre. After the accidental death of a young girl in the crash, the hard nosed Sergeant Tong (Tse) seeks redemption by rescuing her twin from an evil underworld kingpin out to blackmail her mother, an important courtroom prosecutor who could put the criminal away for good. It sounds more complicated than it really needs to be, and the multiple flashbacks and convoluted character connections at times threaten to get in the way of the storytelling. At its heart this is quite a simple police thriller that makes the most of bustling city locations and a determined gritty realism. While not the best Hong Kong has to offer, it’s nonetheless an entertaining ride. Genre fans will get the most from it; everyone else can enjoy the slick camerawork. [Scotty McKellar]