The Beast Stalker (2008) playing at the New York Asian Film Festival 2018 / NYAFF
July 1st, 2018 by Mr. C
Director: Dante Lam
Cast: Nick Cheung, Nicolas Tse, Zhang Jingchu
Language: Cantonese with English subtitles
I miss HK movies like this. It’s less about the action, explosions, CGI, and more about the insane character driven roles within this glorified train wreck of a suspenseful crime story. Yes, it’s over the top in every single fashion possible tauting kidnappings (emphasizing kid), collusion, & extortion but it does draw out emotions and reactions for the players in the film whether sympathetic, empathetic, or inciting anger and confusion for the viewer. Good but overzealous cop – Sergeant Tong (Nicholas Tse) is on a mad hunt for a “Beast” (Nick Cheung) that was involved in an armed robbery that led to the getaway and massive car crash that will provide the impetus and inspiration for the rabid quest for redemption and revenge for both the hero and the bandit in the film in this slightly twisted story within the story.
Yes yes, y’all, it’s a gritty mess for sure. Any Hong Kong movie that starts out in a tea house and then proceeds to take us on chases on Hong Kong rooftops is a good film for me! I’m not joking about the quintessential Hong Kong melancholy ending.
It’s a sad & dark film all throughout. Nothing less & nothing more than you come to expect with the Dante Lam & Nick Cheung collaborations! Beast Stalker is playing tonight at the 2018 New York Asian Film Festival at 9:30pm at Walter Reade Theatre at Lincoln Center. Director Dante Lam will be in attendance for the film! Maybe we’ll ask him what inspired him to create such a dark & moody film!
Tags: beast stalker, dante lam, hk films, hong kong films, new york asian film festival, nyaff, nyaff 2018
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