The Killer 喋血双雄 1989 - Hong Kong

If there ever was a movie to have a huge influence on other filmmakers, the award would go to John Woo's 1989 Hong Kong action movie, The Killer (喋血双雄). This movie is filled to the top with 80's action; elaborate gun fight sequences, slow motion effects, and a melodramatic love story. Though the film was not a success at its initial release in Hong Kong, it gained a lot of audience love from Western audiences in the US. The Kill has influences some of the greatest American directors including Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez paid homage in his films El Mariachi (1992)  and Desperado (1995) and was so greatly influenced, he even added in dialogue to one of his films that directly referenced this film.  

For a movie to have become such a legend in movie making it history, it is surprising to know that the film almost did not get made. After Woo faced financial backing issues after the release of his 1987 film, A Better Tomorrow 2, the only way it got the support it needed was from the two lead actors, Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee's financing companies. 



The Killer follows the tale of Ah Jong (Chow Yun-Fat), an assassin who prides himself on only killing bad people. That is until he accidentally injures a beautiful and talented club singer, Jennie (Sally Yeh), and promises to take on one more job to help pay for surgery that could keep her injuries from escalating and leading her to become blind.  Of course, no action movie would be complete without him falling in love with her right?! To add, since her injuries have led her to have eye issues, she doesn't know the man who vows to help her is the one who got her in this situation in the first place. Oh love! During his last job, Ah Jong is spotted by a Detective Li Ying who vows to capture him. To add to this crazy cat and mouse chase, since Ah Jong failed to do the job without being noticed, the people who set him up for the job are also now out for him.  

The Killer has such wonderfully choreographed shoot out scenes, from scenes on a beach, in a hospital, on a boat, during a car chase, that if complied into one scene, 75% of the film would be shoot out scenes. These action scenes and been replicated in so many action films, that you might not even know this is the film they originated in. A dove flying in slow motion, a church covered in candles and men firing two guns at once, are just a few things this film has given to many other films. 

Though this film has given many stylistic gifts to other directors, Woo, himself, has said that the film was a tribute to directors, Martin Scorsese and French director, Jean-Pierre Melville. The film's plot was highly influenced by Scorsese's Mean Streets and Melville's Le Samouraï. Aside from plot simililarities, Woo also took influence from themes, including the use of Catholic imagery and slow motion during non-action scenes.

This was a very exciting and fast paced film. For lovers of action films, this is one you should not miss! If you are not a hardcore lover of cop films from the 80s, you might find some of the sound effects a bit corny, but that won't keep the storyline from being good. In the end, I give this 4 stars, especially after seeing how much influence it has had in American cinema and other cinemas around the world. 

What other 80s cop films from East Asia do you enjoy? Leave your suggestions in the comments below, and you might see your film on the blog! Please subscribe here and check back Tuesday for a new post. 
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