The Hong Kong film industry at one time enlisted a rating for films that usually contained an excessive amount of sex, nudity, and violence, known as Category III. These were released between 1988 (when it was introduced) through 2015, though much of the output was from 1988 to 1999. Given how graphic many of the films were, it would sometimes be shocking to discover one that would be tame compared to the rest. Taxi Hunter (1993) isn’t exactly tame, but when comparing it to some others with the same rating, it’s a little subdued.
Directed by Herman Yau and starring Anthony Wong in what he considers to be his best role. I wouldn’t disagree. Wong is a fantastic performer and is always engaging to watch, no matter what he’s in.
Kin (Anthony Wong) is just an average guy, good-natured, and works hard as an insurance salesman. He has a beautiful wife and a child on the way, both looking forward to the next stage of their relationship. Tragedy strikes when his wife and unborn child lose their lives, and the person who is “at fault” is a taxi driver. This sets him off on a rampage throughout the city, making all the bad taxi drivers pay for the things they have done.
From the description, most people would assume Taxi Hunter is the Hong Kong answer to Falling Down (1993), and they’d be right. It has a very similar structure and trajectory, but it also stands on its own merits, especially since Wong is so good. There’s a great dynamic between him and his co-star Ringo Yu that helps to drive the film.
Having seen another film recently from Wong and Herman Yau, Ebola Syndrome (1996), I was expecting something a bit more brutal and mean-spirited. Instead, we’re given a very wonderful and dark character study about a man driven to violence. But are his actions justified? An interesting question and, as a whole, a very solid effort from everyone involved.
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88 Films is once again responsible for bringing another Hong Kong classic to domestic media, and they didn’t forget to pack the disc with extras. There’s a limited edition slipcase, a double-sided foldout poster, audio commentary from Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng, an interview with producer and screenwriter Tony Leung Hung-Wah, an interview with action director James Ha, an interview with star Anthony Wong, a trailer, stills gallery, and a reversible cover featuring the original artwork along with the newly commissioned one.
While Taxi Hunter never quite goes too far over the top, it is an interesting character piece. And Anthony Wong gives the performance of a lifetime.
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