R E V I E W

Crime of a Beast

Universe  |  2001  |  87 minutes
Directed by David Lau Tai Wai
Written by Or Siu Lun, Tong Man Kit

With Samuel Leung, Grace Lam, Nathalie Ng

B A C K G R O U N D
director, in cinemas, recent and related films

David Lau Tai Wai presented The Eight Hilarious Gods in 1993, but has no other credits in the Hong Kong Movie Database.

(Thanks to M C Thomason for identifying the director, and also clarifying that the Stanley Tong who produced this film is -not- the better-known Stanley Tong, director. He also identified the DVD cover model as Grace Lam)

The film (shot on video) played briefly in Hong Kong cinemas in November 2001.

M O V I E

plot
By day he is a downtrodden member of a film crew; by night he rapes and kills women. A psychiatrist tries to help.

performances / production
What a mass of confusing contradictions! The DVD features an alluringly posed half-naked woman (Grace Lam) on the cover, leading one (OK, me) to expect a sleazy little thriller. Yet it seems the filmmakers (producer Stanley Tong, director David Lau) wanted to explore a serious issue: To what extent is society to blame for sex crimes against women?

This "film" was shot on video. Perhaps this was intended to lend the proceedings a documentary air; instead, it looks like a television production. It detracts from the viewing experience, but may have been deemed necessary by the filmmakers in order to save on production costs due to the non-commercial subject matter.

Another attempt to add legitimacy is the inclusion of a psychiatrist in the story line. She spends much time tossing around psychological terms, and has the apparent respect of both the film crew and the police, but her actions in one scene that takes place fairly early invalidates her as a character that can be taken seriously. (Under the guise of helping a victim of incest to enjoy sexual relations, the psychiatrist unbuttons the patient's blouse, kisses her, and starts caressing her breast. Uh, what school of psychology is that again?) Thus, it's an uphill battle to believe this film is not simply exploiting a serious issue.

The third factor that fails to establish the film on serious ground is how the rape scenes are handled. Certainly you can argue that one or perhaps two scenes are required to demonstrate the beastliness of the crime. But the scenes are lingered upon, as though the filmmakers wish the audience to identify, not with the various victims (none of whom are depicted with any great degree of sympathy) but with the leering and nasty rapist.

The fourth obstacle is the casting of Samuel Leung Cheuk Moon as the rapist. Leung is an actor who has grown from supporting roles into the occasional lead; he's demonstrated his ability in the past to embody embattled losers who finally erupt when given the chance (as in the thoroughly unappetizing Naked Poison). Here, though, he's not able to overcome the limitations of the script, which makes his character, Ah Fun, a low-life beyond redemption. In fact, it's incomprehensible why his guilt is not as readily apparent to the authorities as it is to the viewer. Neither of the two lead actresses, Natalie Ng and Grace Lam, distinguish themselves.

The last third of the film becomes a jumbled mess to the point that it became difficult to follow the story line, to distinguish what is real, what is a dream, and so forth. By the point that Samuel Leung escapes the police (wearing a flowered dress taken off a woman he just tried to rape), stops along the way to try to rape a female officer, is dragged off her and beaten, and then resumes trying to rape the hapless woman, well, it's difficult even to laugh at the film's misguided attempts to educate.

The only real highlight of the production is the semi-mesmerizing musical score. Unfortunately the credit for the composer was not translated into English, so I can't tell you who it was!

Cinematography by Chang Chi Wing; edited by Chan Sing Yan..

rating
Category IIB. Multiple sleazy and lurid rape scenes, as well as some profanity and violence.

D V D

look
You never forget you're watching video. The lighting is a bit too bright (perhaps a requirement or limitation of the medium) and as a result the look is a bit harsh. Flesh tones often reflect the lighting conditions, skin looks blotchy, etc.

sound
You can choose from four audio options: Cantonese DD 2.0, DD 5.1, DTS, or Mandarin DD 5.1. The DTS track seems to be mixed more aggresively to create a more enveloping listening experience (better mix for the surround channels, at least to my ears.)

subtitles
White removable subtitles with black backing are very easy to see in the English version, although the last word in many sentences was not included or completely spelled out. Not worth complaining about, though, since the film is not worth watching again. Also included are traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles.

features
Eight chapters can be selected from a still-frame menu. A trailer is included.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N
buy, rent, or pass?

Pass for most potential viewers, although Sam Leung completists will want to check out his performance.

(Reviewed 01/10/02)

THIS DVD IS AVAILABLE AT HKFLIX.COM