Saturday, September 19, 2009

Red to Kill (1994) HONG KONG



Hong Kong CAT III films (The equivalent of an NC-17) are usually trashy, moronic and filled with out of place humor. Leave it to Director Billy Tang (Of DR.LAMB fame) to deliver a straight up masterpiece in the genre with RED TO KILL. All the ingredients are in place: A shirtless muscle bound killer who viciously rapes his victims, an apartment building filled with mentally retarded adults and gracious helpings of painful gore. Under Tang's sure handed direction they come together perfectly and deliver sickening mixture of exploitative horror. The blue tinted cinematography lends the proceedings an Argento-ish feel, but the pure depravity brings to mind the sleaze of the grimy 70’s grindhouse cinema.
The only thing missing is a whacked out performance by CAT III alumni Anthony Wong and Simon Yam.

You can rent or buy this film at EYESORE CINEMA (801 Queen West, Toronto, Ontario)