Walk In
Director: Herman Yau
Year: 1997
Rating: 7.5
In the same year
(1997) that these two men - Herman Yau (director) and Nam Yin (producer)
– began the Troublesome Night series – they also made this feature length
film. In some respects it resembles their Troublesome Night films as it
cleverly mixes the genres of horror and comedy – but it also throws in elements
of action and romance and is in total a much fuller and realized piece than
any of their Troublesome Night films. In an interview Yau mentions that there
is subtext here regarding the imminent Handover – but I must confess that
if I hadn’t read it I would never have picked up on this. The film plays
well though – with or without getting the symbolism within.
For me this was just an immensely fun little film that evolves from what
initially seems to be a supernatural horror film to a near screwball action
comedy. It also contains some terrific performances from Danny Lee, Dayo Wong
and Ada Choi. Ada is simply delightful – nothing surprising there – but both
Danny and Dayo play against their typical film image and both deliver excellent
performances. Lee has to carry this film and has never been better or funnier.
In a smaller but intriguing role Wu Chien-lien is suitably eerie and mysterious.
Wu Chien-lien looking beautiful in her blue tinted hair and sorrowful expression
walks to the top of a building and sits on the ledge contemplating suicide.
She turns to the police who have shown up – Dayo and Yu Li – and tells them
that she has been a loser all her life and it is time to change that. “How”
Dayo asks. “By Walking In” – Wu replies and jumps to her death along with
a creepy looking cat. Or does she? Ten floors below, she lands next to Dayo’s
partner, Shing Fui On, and lies motionless for a few minutes before she struggles
to her feet, licks herself, smiles enigmatically and walks away.
Later both Danny Lee and Dayo are badly injured during a heist committed
by Vincent Wan – Lee is shot and goes into a coma that the doctors think he
will never come out of – while Dayo is paralyzed after getting hit by a car.
Dayo wants to die – but his girlfriend Yu Li convinces him to visit Wu Chien-lien.
She is now smoking cigars and talking like a bitter old man - but tells
Dayo how he can walk into another body (ie. subtext for China walking into
HK).
Dayo goes to the comatose body of Danny Lee and tells him if he allows Dayo
to walk in – he will avenge him – an upbeat in his monitor gives Dayo permission.
Afterwards (now being played by Danny Lee of course) Dayo thanks God for allowing
him to walk and have a working penis again - but he should have done some
more research.
He soon discovers that Lee is a small time stuttering crook hated by practically
everyone - has two triad gangs trying to kill him - has a mother, a wife and
two concubines who despise him (and all live together!) – has a sister
(Ada Choi) who develops a crush on him - Yu Li no longer is attracted to
him in his Danny Lee body - and he is getting turned on by his sister - but
its not really his sister - but he is suffering from premature ejaculation
anyway - and Danny Lee's spirit is watching to make sure he doesn't take advantage
of his women.
It’s all very complicated and gets increasingly more comedic as Dayo – make
that Danny - tries to deal with his personal problems and catch the bad guys
responsible for shooting him. Also making appearances are Law Koon-lan as
his wife and Yvonne Yung Hung as one of his concubines.