Future Cops: Webstore Exclusive – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1993
Director: Wong Jing
Writer: Wong Jing
Cast: Andy Lau, Jacky Cheung, Aaron Kwok, Chingmy Yau, Dicky Cheung, Simon Yam, Ekin Cheng, Winnie Lau, Charlie Yeung, Andy Hui, Ken Lo, Billy Chow

Release Date: October 21st, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 58 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: OOP (Limited Edition Webstore Exclusive 1000 copies)

"In the year 2043, the evil crime lord The General (Ken Lo, Drunken Master II) has been imprisoned for his heinous crimes. His loyal followers Kent (Ekin Cheng, Young and Dangerous), Thai King (Billy Chow, High Risk) and Toyota (William Duen, Crime Story) have a plan to free him, though: they will travel back in time and eliminate the Judge who sentenced him. They are followed into the past by Lung (Kwok), Broomhead (Cheung), Ti Man (Lau) and Sing (Yam), “Future Cops” who intend to keep The General in jail where he belongs. But as both cops and criminals arrive in the year 1993 to search for the Judge – who back then was just a teenager – they find themselves embroiled not just in a battle for the future… but high-school drama, too." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "This release of Future Cops is presented from a studio supplied HD transfer that Eureka had no involvement in. Sadly the master is just below the level of quality that we would normally expect. Despite our persistent efforts, the studio would not allow us to restore the film. As this may be the last opportunity for this cult classic to get a physical media release in the UK, we have decided to proceed but on a very limited number and as a Eureka store exclusive. We don’t believe that the slight imperfections in the feature master will affect your enjoyment of this wacky martial arts extravaganza."

Future Cops comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.4 GB

Feature: 26.8 GB

Digital noise reduction has given the source an over processed look. That said, the source looks clean, flesh tones and colors look correct, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. The audio fares better, dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and action sequences sound robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 8 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), a documentary titled Super Street Culture Turbo (28 minutes 23 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and UDON Entertainment founder and CEO Erik Ko, an audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, an O-card slipcase, a double sided poster, and a 16-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled Street Fighter Man Arcade Adventures with Wong Jing and Future Cops written by James Oliver, archival images and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Directed by Wong Jing, a prolific producer and director who is now into his fifth decade of making cinema in Hong Kong. Anyone who's familiar with Hong Kong's heyday of the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s is sure to have seen one of his films. And though he often takes on the role of producer, most films he is associated with have his distinctive bombastic style.

Cops from the future are sent to the past to look for and protect a future judge against The General’s evil minions.

Though Future Cops is loosely based on Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, it's an unofficial adaptation. Future Cops was Wong Jing’s second live-action film to feature characters inspired by the Street Fighter series; his first adaptation was City Hunter. That said, Wong Jing’s cinematic style perfectly suits these types of films.

Future Cops does not require you to know anything about Street Fighter to enjoy the insanity that unfolds. Though the narrative begins in the future, I would not call Future Cops a sci-fi film since most of it takes place in the present. That said, Future Cops is best described as an action/comedy with minimal futuristic elements.

Future Cops’ cast is a who's who of Hong Kong cinema. And when it comes to the performances, the entire cast is exceptional in their respective roles. The cast enthusiasm and dedication to the story that unfolds ensure there is never a dull moment. That said, it's difficult to single out any performance since there are no weak links.

When it comes to humor, nothing is rooted in reality, and it's best described as overexaggerated. Also, Future Cops is overflowing with sight gags, and virtually all of these deliver in spades. The scene where Andy Lau and Chingmy Yau’s characters go inside of a video game and become Luigi and Mario is one of the more memorable sight gags. This sequence culminates with Chingmy Yau’s character taking too many orgasm pills.

Wong Jing is a filmmaker who always makes the most of what he has to work with, and though there are some things that do not hold up in Future Cops, they are easy to overlook. The fight scenes are inventive, and the stunt work is impressive. Also, there is a manic energy that drives the narrative, rarely giving the viewer a moment to recover from the previous moment of humor. Ultimately, Future Cops is a highly entertaining blend of action and humor that fans of Hong Kong cinema should thoroughly appreciate.

Despite the limitations of the transfer, Eureka Video has put together a first-rate release, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Meltdown (High Risk) – Sony Pictures (DVD)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1995
Director: Wong Jing
Writer: Wong Jing
Cast: Jet Li, Chingmy Yau, Charlie Yeung, Yang Chung-hsien, Jacky Cheung, Wu Ma, Valerie Chow

Release Date: May 13th, 2001
Approximate Running Time: 100 Minutes 56 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen & 4:3 Aspect Ratio
Rating: R
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Dolby Digital Stereo English, Dolby Digital Stereo French
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Region Coding: Region 1 NTSC
Retail Price: OOP

“After failing to save his wife the evil ‘Doctor’, Kit Li (Jet Li: Romeo Must Die, The Black Mask) takes a job working as a bodyguard for the world famous actor Frankie Lane. But history repeats itself and Kit is forced to confront his past when The Doctor and his gang take over a luxury hotel in an attempt to steal the Crown Jewels of Russia on exhibition there. Surrounded by the ruthless gangsters and with only his bare hands to protect him and the hostages, Kit must seek his own brand of vengeance." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 2/5

Meltdown (High Risk) comes of a single layer DVD.

Disc Size: 4 GB

Though a lot of DVDs look poor by today's standards, this DVD transfer was mediocre when it was released. There is mild print debris, image clarity is generally strong, and there are compression-related issues.

Audio: 2.5/5 (Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Dolby Digital Stereo English)

This release comes with three audio options, a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in English, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English, and a Dolby Digital stereo mix in French. For this review, I only listened to the English language tracks. The 5.1 audio track sounds too spread out when compared to the stereo audio track, and both tracks leave room for improvement when it comes to range. Fortunately, dialog comes through clearly enough to follow. Included are removable English SDH and Spanish subtitles, and there are burnt-in English subtitles for Cantonese text.

Extras:

Extras for this release include talent files for Wong Jing, Jet Li, Jacky Cheung, and Charlie Yeung, a photo gallery with Jet Li trivia, and a trailer (1 minute 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Other extras include trailers for Once Upon a Time in China, Red Dragon, Gorgeous, and The Prisoner.

Summary:

Directed by Wong Jing, a prolific producer and director who is now into his fifth decade of making cinema in Hong Kong. Anyone who's familiar with Hong Kong's heyday of the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s is sure to have seen one of his films. And though he often takes on the role of producer, most films he is associated with have his distinctive bombastic style.

A former police officer who worked in the bomb squad now works as a bodyguard and stunt double for an action movie star. The man responsible for his wife's tragic death crossed paths with him, thrusting him into the spotlight despite his efforts to stay in the background.

Meltdown (High Risk) is a sendup of Hollywood films like Speed and Die Hard through the lens of Hong Kong cinema. Reportedly, Meltdown (High Risk) is Wong Jing’s negative response to working with Jackie Chan on City Hunter. The character Frankie Lone in Meltdown (High Risk) is a mix of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.

Meltdown (High Risk) is all about action, with most exposure thrown in as an afterthought. The narrative is a bare bones good versus evil scenario that features stereotype villains that are over the top and then some. Despite an anemic narrative, pacing is never an issue as things move at breakneck momentum with each action sequence topping the next.

When it comes to the action sequences and stunts, Meltdown (High Risk) does not disappoint. And though there are moments where Jet Li gets to show off his martial arts prowess, most of the action set pieces are shoutouts. In the most ridiculous action sequences, the protagonist enters a hotel lobby, gets in a car, drives in a circle shooting an AK-47 at the bad guys, and then takes the car up an elevator.

When it comes to the performances, they work well within the story that unfolds. The most memorable performance is Kelvin Wong’s (Supercop) portrayal of The Doctor, the leader and mastermind behind a criminal gang responsible for the protagonist's wife's death. He delivers a deliriously over-the-top performance that perfectly captures his character's megalomania. Unfortunately, Chingmy Yau (Naked Killer) is not given much to work with in her role as an investigative reporter.

Though Jet Li is the main draw of Meltdown (High Risk), it is really Wong Jing’s show. Throughout Meltdown (High Risk), it's filled with elements that are synonymous with the films of Wong Jing. His use of subversive humor, including pop culture references, and his favoring of styles of substance are on full display. Ultimately, Meltdown (High Risk) is a highly entertaining film that does a superb job mixing action and humor.

Meltdown (High Risk) is begging for an HD upgrade over this ancient audio/video presentation.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Kung Fu Cult Master – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1993
Director: Wong Jing
Writers: Wong Jing, Louis Cha
Cast: Jet Li, Sharla Cheung, Gigi Lai, Chingmy Yau, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Francis Ng, Sun Mengquan, Bryan Leung, Collin Chou, Richard Ng 

Release Date: January 29th, 2024
Approximate running time: 103 Minutes 26 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £17.99 (UK)

"While various martial arts sects fight over a pair of mythical swords that grant great power, Zhang Wuji (Jet Li) goes on a quest to become a great martial artist and end the conflict." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut from a new restoration of the original film elements."

Kung Fu Cult Master comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38.3 GB

Feature: 31.2 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape, free of any source damage. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and compression are solid, and black levels are strong.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese), 3/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, an LPCM mono mix in Cantonese and an LPCM mono mix in English. The English language track is not as clean as the Cantonese language track; it has a noticeable hiss throughout. That said, dialog comes through clearly, and range-wise, things sound serviceable. The Cantonese language track is in great shape. Dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and a second removable English subtitle track for text and a song in Cantonese. It should be noted that when watching the English language track, there is a brief dialog exchange in Cantonese, and this comes with removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include English export theatrical trailer (3 minutes 5 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 22 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival Interview with actor Sammo Kam-Bo Hung titled Kung Fu Master (23 minutes 49 seconds, LPCM stereo English with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian film expert Frank Djeng, reversible cover art, an O-card slipcase (limited to 2,000 copies), and a 20-page booklet (limited to 2,000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled We Don't Need Another Hero: or, Revenge of the Kung Fu Cult Master written by Simon Abrams, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Directed by Wong Jing, a prolific producer and director who is now into his fifth decade of making cinema in Hong Kong. Anyone who's familiar with Hong Kong's heyday of the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s is sure to have seen one of his films. And though he often takes on the role of producer, most films he is associated with have his distinctive bombastic style.

Kung Fu Cult Master is a Wuxia film that was adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. Over the years, there have been numerous TV and film adaptations of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, notably the Shaw Brothers films Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and The Hidden Power of the Dragon Saber.

The narrative revolves around martial arts sects that are battling over two mythical swords.

Though adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, Kung Fu Cult Master is not a faithful adaptation. Whereas in the novel the protagonist is portrayed as a righteous hero, in Kung Fu Cult Master he is the polar opposite. Reportedly, this change of protagonist had a negative effect on Kung Fu Cult Master at the box office, and it was originally planned to be the first of three films.

From its opening moments, it becomes clear that action comes first and exposition takes a backseat. There is no time given to establish characters and build them up; pretty much all of the characters are already in peak form and have no room for growth. The only character who evolves is Zhang Wuji, whose parents' deaths traumatized him. Though this character does not start off as a skilled fighter, once he learns the Nine Yang Skill, he becomes an imposing fighter whose skills are second to none. This character's evolution is one of the few bright spots in Kung Fu Cult Master.

The cast is filled with recognizable faces, and for the most part, they are all very good in their roles. The most memorable performance was that of Chingmy Yau (Naked Killer) in the role of Xiaozhao, a woman who helps Zhang Wuji after they fall off a cliff. Though Jet Li (Once Upon a Time in China) is billed as the star of Kung Fu Cult Master, this film is really an ensemble cast in which multiple actors are given an equal amount of screentime. That said, when it comes to the action sequences, he once again delivers, and then some.

Content-wise, Kung Fu Cult Master has all the elements that one would expect and want from a Wuxia film. The tale is firmly rooted in the realm of fantasy, and when it comes to the fight scenes, they are high-flying and often defy gravity. When it comes to the characters, there is a clear distinction between good and evil. Also, some of the action sequences can be bloody, with severed body parts.

Though Kung Fu Cult Master has a solid premise, rival clans fight to obtain a pair of magical swords. The execution of said premise is not as effective, and some of the blame for this falls on a narrative that tries to cram too much into 103 minutes. Another strike against Kung Fu Cult Master is its open-ended ending. That said, not being able to make the two additional planned films does not do Kung Fu Cult Master's ending any favors.

Kung Fu Cult Master gets a first-rate release from Eureka Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a trio of informative extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Royal Tramp Collection - Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Hong Kong, 1992 (Royal Tramp, Royal Tramp II)
Director: Wong Jing (Both Films)
Cast: Stephen Chow, Sharla Cheung, Ng Man-tat, Natalis Chan, Sandra Ng, Chingmy Yau, Damian Lau, Brigitte Lin, Deric Wan, Brigitte Lin, Michelle Reis, Elvis Tsui

Release Date: November 13th, 2023
Approximate running times: 110 Minutes 49 Seconds (Royal Tramp), 98 Minutes 17 Seconds (Royal Tramp II)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £26.99 (UK)

"An epic two-part wuxia-comedy based on the writings of acclaimed Chinese novelist Jin Yong, Royal Tramp 1 and Royal Tramp 2 star Stephen Chow as a cowardly bard who finds himself part of a real adventure when he is inducted into a sect of revolutionaries.

Wai Siu-bao (Chow) is known for his exciting tales of adventure and heroism, but his own life is quite dull. After rescuing the leader of a revolutionary movement from a police ambush, Wai is recruited into the Heaven and Earth Society and sent to steal secrets from the royal palace. However, in the palace things get complicated fast and Wai realizes he has to play all sides off against each other if he is going to survive.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (Royal Tramp, Royal Tramp II)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Brand new 4K restorations of both films".

Royal Tramp comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.4 GB

Feature: 34.1 GB

Royal Tramp II comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.1 GB

Feature: 30.3 GB

The sources used for these two films' transfers are in excellent shape. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.5/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese), 4.25.5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English)

Each film comes with two audio options, an LPCM mono mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. All of these audio tracks sound excellent. Dialogue comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and fight scenes sound robust. That said, though the English language tracks sound very good range-wise, I would give the edge to the Cantonese language tracks. Included are removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for Royal Tramp include a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 40 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Wong Jing titled Part 1 (9 minutes 17 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto, and an audio commentary with Asian film experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema.

Extras for Royal Tramp II include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 50 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Wong Jing titled Part 1 (10 minutes 50 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Helene Law Lan (14 minutes 24 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles),  an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto, and an audio commentary with Mike Leeder and Arne Venema.

Other extras include a O-Card slipcase (limited to 2,000 copies), and a 20-page booklet (limited to 2,000 copies) with cast & crew credits, an essay titled The Court Jester: Royal Tramp Stephen Chow Gets Classical written by James Oliver, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Directed by Wong Jing, a prolific producer and director who is now into his fifth decade of making cinema in Hong Kong. Anyone who's familiar with Hong Kong's heyday of the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s is sure to have seen one of his films. And though he often takes on the role of producer, most films he is associated with have his distinctive bombastic style.

The narratives for these two films revolve around Wai Siu-bao, a man known for telling tall tales. When he accidentally saves the life of a revolutionary, he becomes entangled in the cause to overthrow the emperor. From there, he reluctantly becomes an eunuch who gains the trust of the emperor. Firmly entrenched on both sides, Wai Siu-bao must choose where his loyalty lies.

The main character of Royal Tramp and its sequel, Royal Tramp II, is Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle) in the role of Wai Siu-bao. And though his style of comedy is an acquired taste that, for some reason, does not translate as well as Jackie Chan’s style of comedy does, for anyone who enjoys broad physical comedy, an actor like Stephen Chow and these two Royal Tramp films will be right up your alley. That said, Stephen Chow delivers a sensational performance that not only hits its mark when it comes to humor, but he also holds his own when it comes to marital arts sequences.

Besides Stephen Chow, these two films are filled with recognizable faces for anyone who's familiar with 1980s and 1990s Hong Kong cinema. Notable performances include Chingmy Yau (Naked Killer) in the role of Princess Kin-ning, the Emperor's tomboy sister, whom Wai Siu-bao initially mistakes for a boy; Elvis Tsui (A Chinese Torture Chanmber) in the role of Oboi, a megalomanic general; and Ng Man-tat (A Moment of Romance) in the role of Hoi Tai-fu, the reluctant mentor of Wai Siu-bao. In the case of the latter, he would often work with Stephen Chow, and their onscreen chemistry makes their moments together some of the most memorable.

The most enjoyable aspect of these Royal Tramp films is watching Wai Siu-bao overcome obstacles. In many ways, he is a reluctant hero who is just trying to find an easy way out, only to end up deeper in trouble. And when he does finally become a kung fu master after sleeping with the virgin leader of the Red Lotus Clan, he still needs a final push before he embraces all the powers he now has.

Released only a few months apart, Royal Tramp and Royal Tramp II feature a continuous narrative where the latter picks up where the former left off. Royal Tramp does a great job setting up who everyone is and their motivations, while Royal Tramp II is more focused on its action set pieces. That said, just because Royal Tramp focuses more on character backstory, that is not to say that it does not have its fair share of exemplary action sequences. Also, when it comes to the action sequences, they tend to be gory, with head decapitations and other body parts being ripped off. Another area where these two films excel is their offbeat humor, which at times is risque. Ultimately, Royal Tramp and Royal Tramp II are solid examples of Wuxia cinema that fans of this genre should thoroughly enjoy.

The Royal Tramp Collection is an excellent release from Eureka Video that comes with solid audio/video presentations and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Naked Killer – Hong Kong Legends (DVD)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1992
Director: Clarence Ford (Clarence Fok)
Writer: Wong Jing
Cast: Chingmy Yau, Simon Yam, Carrie Ng, Madoka Sugawara, Yiu Wai, Hui Siu-Hung, Ken Lo

Release Date: 2002
Approximate Running Time: 93 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Cantonese, Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region 2 PAL
Retail Price: OOP

"A supercharged erotic action-adventure combining elements of 'Nikita' and 'Basic Instinct', 'Naked Killer' unfolds the twilight existence of a super-sexy female assassin, who falls victim to a lethal vendetta at the hands of a rival and her lesbian lover." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Digitally re-mastered and restored DVD transfer."

Naked Killer comes of a dual layer DVD.

Disc Size: 6.8 GB

Obviously dated by today's standards, this transfer holds up better than expected. The source used is in great shape; there are no signs of source imperfections. Colors are nicely saturated and at times vivid; flesh tones look correct; the image looks crisp; black levels are strong; and compression is very good for a DVD.

Audio: 3.5/5 (Dolby Digital 5.1 Cantonese, Dolby Digital 5.1 English)

This release comes with two audio options, a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in Cantonese and a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in English. Both audio mixes sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include Hong Kong theatrical trailer (2 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), UK promotional trailer (1 minute 46 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with English text, no subtitles), an interview with director Clarence Ford (24 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with producer Wong Jing (15 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Simon Yam (20 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a text based extra about actress Chingmy Yau titled Chingmy Yau Uncovered, an audio commentary with Clarence Ford and moderated by Jude Poyer, and trailers for other films released by Hong Kong Legends.

Summary:

The creative talent behind Naked Killer is director Clarence Ford (The Iceman Cometh) and prolific producer Wong Jing, whose films best fit into exploitation cinema. Wong Jing also wrote Naked Killer’s screenplay, which was clearly influenced by films like Basic Instinct and La Femme Nikita.

The narrative revolves around a detective who still has not gotten over the death of his partner due to his own recklessness. One day his paths cross with a young woman who has a valiant streak, and from there they quickly form a bond. Their happiness is short-lived when she is forced to change her identity and becomes an assassin.

Naked Killer is a textbook example of what is known as Cat III cinema. These were Hong Kong films that pushed the limits when it came to sex and violence. Some of the choice moments in Naked Killer include mutilating genitals, gratuitous softcore with ample nudity, and a scene where it is suggested that a detective accidentally ate a victim's missing penis, thinking it was a sausage.

When discussing Naked Killer, it is hard to look past its leading lady, Chingmy Yau. She was a former Miss Hong Kong contestant who was a protégé of prolific director and producer Wong Jing; she rose to prominence as he cast her in a string of roles, including the cult classic Naked Killer. Most of her early work consisted of her playing good girls in romantic comedies. She would heat up the screen with sexuality in every film she appeared in, and she would work with many of Hong Kong’s biggest stars, including Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Despite her attempts to diversify herself as an actress, she would be remembered for the exploitation films like Naked Killer that she appeared in. She married a Hong Kong businessman and has since retired from the film industry. She may never make a film again, but she will not be easily forgotten.

The rest of the cast are very good in their roles, especially Simon Yam (Full Contact) in the role of a detective named Tinam, who has a Vertigo-like sickness that causes him to vomit whenever he has to use his gun. Another performance of note is Carrie Ng (Sex and Zen) in the role of a lesbian assassin named Princess, who mutilates all of her victims genitalia.

Though there is a disregard for narrative structure, this is easy to overlook since there is an ample amount of sleaze and graphic carnage. Other strengths are the stylish cinematography, which gives Naked Killer a more polished look than most Cat III films, and the delirious dialog that is unintentionally humorous. Ultimately, Naked Killer may never win any awards for acting. Still, it is a thrill ride full of breathtaking action, brutal violence, and beautiful women who will kill you as quick as they turn you on.

Hong Kong Legends was, for their time, the premier label when it came to Hong Kong cinema. And though many of the films that they released have since made their way to Blu-ray via solid releases, Naked Killer is one film that is still MIA on Blu-ray.

Written by Michael Den Boer