The Big Heat

Andrew Kam Yeung-Wah's 1988 Hong Kong film follows Inspector Wong, who puts his resignation on hold to investigate the suspicious death of his former partner. The inquiry he runs with a small team opens onto a scheme far larger than he expected. What the film is known for is the degree of its violence. Several sequences were considered extreme even within eighties Hong Kong crime cinema, and they are shown without cutting away. The nerve damage in the lead's hand is a detail that keeps physical wear present throughout. The narrative is fast and character depth is limited; the strength lies in the cutting rhythm and the action design. Waise Lee leads, with Joey Wong in support. Who it's for: those who like eighties Hong Kong crime cinema. Who it's not for: viewers sensitive to graphic violence; the film goes markedly past it in several scenes.