Disarmingly downbeat and occasionally heavy-handed pre-handover scare flick—oddly released after the fact and to little effect—has mainland psycho Wu Chien-lien literally attempting to steal new lives in Hong Kong for herself and her husband (Moses Chan), a plan that involves destroying the life of a reclusive, lonesome cab driver (Wayne Lai). Undeniably intriguing allegory with Wu an absolutely ice-blooded villainess. Final ten minutes, during which the last pieces of the plan are literally put in place, are absolutely harrowing. Directorial debut of seasoned screenwriter Tsang, whose prior work on comedies, action movies and gangster dramas gave little hint of the unrepentant nihilism he indulges in here. Produced by Johnnie To—whose association with Tsang dates back over a decade—with apparently little love lost for Chinese mainlanders, who are painted here in strokes not dissimilar to Hollywood horror film hillbillies. This was the second film produced under To's new Milkyway Image production company, after BEYOND HYPOTHERMIA.
