This impressive debut by the Pang brothers is a heady mix of dazzling imagery and a violent tale of love, betrayal and redemption…
A deadly accurate and efficient hitman, Kong (Pawalit Mongkolpisit) – deaf and mute since birth – has been detached from society due to his disability. His carries out his assignations with that same level of detachment – unable to hear his victims pleas for mercy, this is his revenge on an unforgiving world. His only friends are Joe (Pisek Intrakanchit), the professional killer who trained him and he lives with, and Aom (Patharawarin Timkul), an exotic dancer who forms their link to the underworld and supplies Kong’s hits. (She also happens to be Joe’s ex-girlfriend.)
Then the beautiful Fon (Premsinee Ratanasopha) enters his world. Kong falls heavily, and for the first time has a chance to have a normal relationship and become a real part of society. But how long until his past catches up with him? Events are colliding to bring Kong’s tiny world down around his ears, and as he finally begins to feel remorse about his actions there can only be one conclusion…
The theme of the hitman is familiar, films like John Woo’s classic The Killer have covered similar territory (and it owes a definite debt to Ringo Lam’s Full Contact) but Danny and Oxide Pang’s first collaboration on script and direction breaks new ground. Proving that while the west is content to simply copy Hong Kong movies other countries in Asia, like Thailand, are taking it further.
Using inventive film treatments and sound techniques their imagery hits you on all levels right from the start. A flashback of a bullying incident from Kong’s childhood is treated as a washed out home movie. Elsewhere, Kong and Joe’s heydays look like a lost reel from a Hong Kong movie of the eighties. One assassination is taken from the p.o.v. of a lizard. When Kong enacts his revenge on a gang in a restaurant (very reminiscent of The Killer, a gun in each hand) scenes of the ensuring carnage are flashed up as he walks to the room, skipping to the end when he gets there. The soundtrack sometimes cuts out completely, so we hear the world as Kong does, or rather don’t. There’s no end to the Pang brothers creative approach.
Yet these stunning visuals never get in the way of the story or great performances. The intelligence of the script makes Kong’s character ultimately sympathetic without denying his cold, almost mechanical killing abilities. Neither Kong’s love nor his redemption can ever be.
This is a stylish, near perfect production that should appeal to more than just fans of the action genre. Unmissable.
DVD details
Distributor:Tartan Video (UK)
Excellent widescreen transfer, which is just as well otherwise you might not realise the defects are deliberate! Unlike the US DVD this is uncut. Includes a (tiny) promotional art gallery and film notes.
