Beast Stalker

Beast Stalker (Chinese: 証人) is a 2008 Hong Kong action thriller film written, produced and directed by Dante Lam. The film stars Nicholas Tse, Nick Cheung, Zhang Jingchu and Liu Kai-chi. It is about a traffic accident that changes multiple people's lives forever.

Beast Stalker
Directed byDante Lam
Produced by
  • Dante Lam
  • Candy Leung
  • Cheung Hong-tat
Written by
  • Dante Lam
  • Ng Wai-lun
Starring
Music byHenry Lai Wan-man
CinematographyCheung Man-po
Tse Chung-to
Edited byChan Ki-hop
Distributed byEmperor Motion Pictures
Release date
  • 27 November 2008 (2008-11-27) (Hong Kong)
Running time
109 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese
Mandarin
Box officeHK$8 million[1]

Plot

Sergeant Tong Fei (Nicholas Tse) is a no-nonsense Hong Kong cop. One day during a police bust with his team who include Sun (Liu Kai Chi), Christy (Sherman Chung) and Michael (Derek Kok). Sun almost loses his life to a gunshot from a fleeing suspect due to an unreliable snitch and Michael nearly falling asleep during a door breach. This causes Tong to berate Michael and vows to have him transferred off the team. On the same day however Tong and Sun are called to investigate a stolen car by a crew of criminals who just finished committing a series of robberies. Although Tong and Sun pursue the criminals, they get into a serious car accident involving a passing Jeep who seriously cripples Sun. Tong manages to shoot dead the criminals and put the lead criminal in a coma. Unfortunately to his horror he discovers he also accidentally shot dead Yee the elder daughter of public prosecutor and single mother Gao Min (Zhang Jingchu) who was placed in the trunk of their car when the criminals hijacked another passerby vehicle which belonged to Gao. Unable to handle the guilt, Tong Fei succumbs to a fog of pain. Gao Min, meanwhile, pours all her love and attention to her younger daughter Ling.

Three months later, the lead criminal Cheung Yat-tung (Philip Keung) awakens from his coma. Gao Min, who had been working hard on bringing him to justice, insists he stand trial immediately. However complications arise as Ling is suddenly kidnapped by a man seriously damaged in one eye known as Hung King (Nick Cheung) who does shady jobs for hire and has his own agenda. Gao is threatened by the kidnapper to change evidence for Cheung's trial to get him acquitted. Tong is once again thrust into a cat and mouse game to not only save Gao's other daughter but also as redemption from his past mistakes.

Tong's tries at first to enlist Gao's assistance but Gao outright refuses claiming she would rather have any other cop save Ling but not Tong as his appearance constantly reminds her of Yee. Tong's investigation goes off the books and leads him to a garbage centre where is discovers the kidnappers SIM card. Tong is forced to turn to help from Christy and then Michael, who at first refuses to cooperate because of Tong's constantly writing bad reports about him in the past and also revealing that Michael is also Tong's cousin. After Tong's apologizes for his actions in the past, Michael eventually relents and assists Tong track the sim card and also Gao's MMS and contact with the kidnapper revealing Ling is being held in an apartment with Neon Lights nearby.

As Tong and Sun try to pinpoint Ling's location. Sun goes for a lunch break in a restaurant but coincidentally spots Hung in the same restaurant Sun tries to discreetly alert Tong but Hung catches on and flees. A lengthy chase ensures where Tong attempts to Hung, but Hung's fighting skills overpower Tong and disarm him of his weapon. Gunshots from Tong's sidearm attract the attention of multiple Hong Kong PTU officers who gave chase, however Hung is able to evade all the officers in his way. Eventually Tong catches up with Hung, but Hung runs into a nearby armored car and knocks out a security guard commandeering his shotgun and pinning down Tong and the pursuing PTU officers. Haunted briefly by Yee's death Tong's eventually leaves cover and attempt to apprehend Hung but finds that Hung has disappeared and vanished from the scene.

Soon after, Tong is forced to surrender his sidearm, pending an officer involved investigation. Gao hears the news and arrives on scene. Tong reveals to Gao about the location where Ling was held. As Tong and Sun enters Hung's apartment, they discover a hidden room where they found Hung's wife whose in a deteriorative state. When Hung has taken back his wife from the police, Tong tracks him down through GPS where he finds Hung and beats him in the head with a rock. After finding Ling, Hung who is now fully blind, surrenders himself to the police. It was revealed that Hung was the driver of the Jeep from the earlier car accident, which results him critical injuries along with his wife. The film ends with Tong walks away with Ling as she reunites with her mother.

Cast

Reception

Derek Elley of Variety wrote, "Crying out for a Stateside remake from its opening reel, stygian crimer Beast Stalker grips like a vise, and is unquestionably the finest Asian action-psychodrama since South Korea's The Chaser last year."[1] Neil Young of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "This glossy, flashily directed plausibility-stretcher picks up whenever the bad guy's unusual character and history are being explored, but flattens out when the focus shifts back from pursued to pursuer."[2] G. Allen Johnson of the San Francisco Chronicle called it a new addition to "Hong Kong's great cycle of kinetic action films".[3]

Awards and nominations
Awards
Ceremony Category Name Outcome
15th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Actor Nick Cheung Won
Film of Merit Beast Stalker Won
28th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Screenplay Jack Ng, Dante Lam Nominated
Best Actor Nick Cheung Won
Best Supporting Actor Liu Kai-chi Won
Best Film Editing Chan Ki-hop Nominated
Best Sound Design Phyllis Cheng, Nip Kei-wing, David Wong Nominated
46th Golden Horse Awards Best Actor Nick Cheung Won
Best Action Choreography Stephen Tung Nominated
3rd Asian Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Nick Cheung Nominated
Best Editor Chan Ki-hop Nominated
53rd Asia Pacific Film Festival Best Actor Nick Cheung Won
10th Changchun Film Festival Best Actor Nick Cheung Won
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References
  1. Elley, Derek (6 February 2009). "Review: 'Beast Stalker'". Variety. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  2. Young, Neil (8 February 2009). "Film Review: The Beast Stalker". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  3. Johnson, G. Allen (15 May 2009). "Review: 'The Beast Stalker'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
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