On The Run: Deluxe Collector's Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1988
Director: Alfred Cheung
Writers: Alfred Cheung, Keith Wong
Cast: Yuen Biao, Pat Ha, Charlie Chin, Lieh Lo, Wah Yuen, Phillip Ko, Idy Chan

Release Date: September 26th, 2022
Approximate running time: 89 Minutes 21 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK)

"In the aftermath of his wife’s brutal murder, struggling cop Heung Ming (Yuen Biao) is forced to go into hiding after discovering corruption in the ranks. His only ally is a deadly assassin Chui (Pat Ha) as they each try to avoid arrest, and even death." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, "BRAND NEW 2K transfer from the Original Negatives."

On the Run comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.4 GB

Feature: 29 GB

The source used for this transfer looks excellent. Colors and flesh tones look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio sounds great; the dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 5 4 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), alternate ending (1 minute 29 seconds, LPCM mono with Cantonese text and removable English subtitles), an interview with David West titled Predicting the Future (18 minutes 49 seconds, LPCM stereo English with removable English subtitles for Cantonese dialog), an interview with director Alfred Cheung titled Running Away (20 minutes 35 seconds, LPCM stereo English with removable English subtitles for Cantonese dialog), an audio commentary with Kenneth Brorsson and Phil Gillon of the Podcast on Fire Network, an audio commentary with Asian cinema experts Frank Djeng and FJ DeSanto, six replica Lobby Cards, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, and a eighty-page perfect bound book with an essay titled On the Run and Hong Kong Noir written by Matthew Edwards, an interview with Alfred Cheung, and an interview with actress Patricia Ha.

Summary:

By the late 1980's, Hong Kong cinema drifted more towards violent cinema about criminals and corrupt law enforcement. Some of what led to these films was a reflection of what was going on in Hong Kong. Another element key to many of these films was how they approached the uncertainty of Hong Kong's being reunited with China in 1997. On The Run, a film that has many elements that are synonymous with heroic bloodshed cinema, and all of the anxiety tied to Hong Kong's uncertain future.

On The Run’s narrative revolves around a protagonist who at times resembles the Alfred Hitchcock Wrong Man character. The protagonist is a police officer named Heung Ming who becomes the target of corrupt cops whom his ex-wife had been investigating. And when his ex-wife is assassinated, he then takes it upon himself to find her killer. Along the way, he forms an alliance with Chui, the woman who killed his ex-wife. From there, they try to stay alive while trying to expose the corrupt cops who hired Chui.

On The Run is a different kind of role for Yuen Biao (Righting Wrongs). He is most known for portraying more light-hearted characters. On The Run, he is given his most complex character, Heung Ming, a passive character who is forced to become the aggressor when his back is against the wall. Other performances of note include Pat Ha (Vengeance Is Mine) in the role of an assassin named Chui, and Charlie Chin (My Lucky Stars) in the role of a police inspector who is the ringleader of a gang of corrupt cops selling narcotics they stole from drug dealers.

On The Run was co-written and directed by Alfred Cheung, a filmmaker who is most known for directing the Her Fatal Ways film series. When it comes to tone, On The Run is a grim film that is the polar opposite of most of the films Alfred Cheung directed. His direction is solid, and though there are a few stylish moments, most notably in the scene where an undercover cop is hiding under a glass table, he is discovered when a magazine is moved, exposing his hiding place. That said, the strength of his direction is how he allows the characters to take center stage.

From its opening moments, On The Run sets a relentless pace that rarely gives you a moment to catch your breath. And though there are a few shootouts, it saves its most spectacular shootout for its blood-soaked finale that provides a perfect coda. Ultimately, On The Run is an extraordinary piece of filmmaker that is a must-see if you are a fan of Hong Kong’s late 1980’s crime films.

On The Run gets an exceptional release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer