Back in the late 1980s into the 90s, triad films were knocked out on a regular basis. Sometimes even financed by the triads. This one is set entirely within the triad world with a slice of Yakuza thrown in. No law enforcement is to be seen. The triads police themselves. Fatally. This is strictly the triads and within that world are interlocking interests, relationships, friendships, feuds and family. And obligations. There is honor and dishonor. Sacrifice and betrayals. This is fairly ordinary in the genre in that respect, but I enjoyed it for the time it spends following a number of people and giving them some depth. Developing the relationships between them. It is directed by Michael Chan Wai-man who in real life was very familiar with triads and gives this a sprinkling of authenticity. The cinematography is from Peter Ngor, one of the best (Full Contact, On the Run, Mr. Vampire).


Ngor begins the film by shooting a neon drenched street at night and a two-decker red bus drives by. The camera then rises up to an office from the outside to show five men in bright red light. The boss wants a rival killed that night. They draw for it and Brother Pu wins (or loses). Pu is played by Michael Chan. In a vicious knife fight he kills the rival and his bodyguards. He has to leave town. His friend Maddy (Shing fu-on) says goodbye.


Sixteen years pass. It is 1990. Mr. Brown's (Roger Ball) son is kidnapped by a gang. He pulls an obligation card from the past and asks Fan (Alex Man) to return to Hong Kong and rescue his son. With Kit (Andy Lau) they do, but kill a few of the abductors and then  realize it was the Yakuza. Fan also goes to see Shirley (Yu Wai - Sister Cindy in Naked Killer) and her grown daughter (Regina Kent). He has loved Shirley for years. Kit falls for the daughter. They all take a photo together. That is always bad luck in a triad film.


The Yakuza want revenge for their men killed. They send for someone from Japan. Pu of course now called Hoshida. He is connected to Shirley and can't do the job. Now the Yakuza need to kill him. Some solid action but most of it is drama. Ng Man-tat, Alan Tang, Yum Yum Shaw and a bunch of other familiar faces fill out a fine cast. As a warning, there is a horrible fight between two dogs in a match that looks very real. Michael Chan is such a tough motherfucker. Those tattoos are real. Though Andy Lau is most prominent on the poster, it is Alex Man who gets the most time.

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