Director: Dante Lam
Cast: Nicholas Tse, Nick Cheung, Zhang Jingchu, Miao Pu, Liu Kai-Chi, Philip Keung
"The Beast Stalker" opens with Sergeant Tong (Nicholas Tse) in a car chase with wanted criminal, Cheung Yat-Tung (Philip Keung), but the pursuit ends in a car crash involving four vehicles. Recovering from the crash, Tong is still able to stop Cheung by firing at his escaping vehicle. However, at the same time, he unintentionally shoots a young girl, daughter of public prosecutor, Ann Ko (Zhang Jingchu). The young girl later dies from the bullet wounds.
Three months later, Cheung is about to stand trial and the case's prosecutor is none other that Ann Ko. What are the odds? Cheung's men then hires Hung (Nick Cheung) to kidnap Ann's other daughter, Ling to blackmail her into dropping the case. Tong witnessed Ling being kidnapped and will stop at nothing to save her to redeem himself. A cat-and-mouse game between Tong and Hung ensues.
Three months later, Cheung is about to stand trial and the case's prosecutor is none other that Ann Ko. What are the odds? Cheung's men then hires Hung (Nick Cheung) to kidnap Ann's other daughter, Ling to blackmail her into dropping the case. Tong witnessed Ling being kidnapped and will stop at nothing to save her to redeem himself. A cat-and-mouse game between Tong and Hung ensues.
In my opinion, "The Beast Stalker" is among the best films to come out of Hong Kong last year, together with "Ip Man" and "Red Cliff". The action sequences in the film are pretty solid and tense. Credits also have to be given to director Dante Lam for balancing the action sequences with equally effective character moments. The character development allows the audience to feel and understand what motivates the characters to do what they are doing.
Nicholas Tse's portrayal of Sergeant Tong, a cop who is filled with pain and guilt is remarkably effective and believable. However, I felt that he may have overacted a tiny little bit at times. Nick Cheung proves that he is more suitable playing darker characters. His portrayal of the kidnapper/hitman Hung is both menacing and sympathetic at the same time. I felt that his character is the most interesting in the entire film. He is neither good nor evil, and is simply doing what he does to earn money to look after his bedridden wife.
One complaint I have the way the film reveals how everyone is connected to each other. The coincidence that ties all the characters together is highly questionable and IMHO will only happen in a movie. But that's just me nitpicking.
One complaint I have the way the film reveals how everyone is connected to each other. The coincidence that ties all the characters together is highly questionable and IMHO will only happen in a movie. But that's just me nitpicking.
But overall, "The Beast Stalker" is a tense and satisfying police thriller and has all the elements of a well-made film. Recommended if you're a fan of Hong Kong films.
Score: 8/10
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