Matthew Jaworski Billy Tang's 'Yeuk Saat' ('Red To Kill') is a wicked little gem. This film occupies a very disturbing, but thoroughly entertaining realm. I went into this film with high expectations. Needless to say, I was not let down in the least. They just don't make films like this in North America or Europe. 'Red To Kill' pushes the limits of acceptability brilliantly, and will no doubt leave even jaded viewers surprised and entertained...Ben Ng's portrayal of a psychopathic rapist who falls in love with a retarded girl whom he had raped is amazing. There is just something about the main antagonist is these Cat III films (I am thinking of Mr. Ng & Anthony Wong) that borders on frightening. The level of mania, and the exuberance which with these fine actors execute scene after scene with obvious psychotic glee is spellbinding. Me and my girlfriend were blown away by how unbelievably psychotic and deranged Ben Ng was in this gem. He easily rivals Anthony Wong (from 'The Untold Story' and 'Ebola Syndrome') for cinema's most wicked and insane psychopath...If you are familiar with Cat III films, you know what to expect- over-the-top violence and wicked rape scenes unflinchingly caught by the lens. I have witnessed many of these films in the past 6 months, and this is one of the better ones...Some may take issue with the fact that the majority of this film takes place in a home for the retarded. To me, that made the film all the more entertaining. Perhaps if I believed in hell, I would go there; but damn, I sure got some cheap laughs out of this film. The retarded actors and actresses were highly amusing. Me and my girlfriend couldn't help from laughing out loud at numerous scenes...At the same time, there were some very touching elements to this film. The scene after Ming-Ming (Lily Chung) got raped, when her fellow institution mates were crying and giving her gifts nearly brought a tear to my eye- it was incredibly touching (for real, I am not being facetious)...I realize I haven't covered too many plot details in this little review/comment. You will have to watch this amazing and unforgettable film yourself if you want to know what happens. If you are a fan of extreme cinema (specifically Cat III films), you will very likely love this movie. From a cinema-obsessive who seeks out edgy entertainment, 'Red To Kill' comes highly recommended...

DVD_Connoisseur "Red To Kill" is a controversial Cat III film from Hong Kong's "Billy" Tang ("Run and Kill", "Dr. Lamb"). It's uncompromising stuff - the treatment of its subject matter is bordering on being extremely tasteless but I found the director managed to keep the film on the right tracks thanks to moving and realistic performances by the main actors.Briefly, the movie tells the tale of a psychopathic rapist who just happens to be a doctor in a home for people with learning difficulties, and a girl, Ming-Ming, who is living in the home. The sight of the colour red sends the mad doc' into a murderous, sex-crazed rampage and the results are pretty strong and not for those of a nervous disposition."Red To Kill" isn't a "feel good" movie and you may indeed feel like a hot shower after viewing it. I felt more than a little dirty that I had enjoyed the film...be warned - it doesn't pull its punches....Worth checking out if you're a fan of the harder-edged HK productions.

Libretio RED TO KILL (Ruo Sha)Aspect ratio: 1.85:1Sound format: MonoThough Chinese filmmakers have long been fascinated with images of violence and bloodshed - from the vintage horror films of Ma-xu Weibang through to Chang Cheh's splattery kung fu pictures of the 1970's - it wasn't until the early 1990's that Hong Kong horror movies found a new and unexpected foothold within the cultural mainstream, due to a wave of 'true crime' dramas spearheaded by DR. LAMB (1992) and THE UNTOLD STORY (1993), both helmed by Danny Lee (Chow Yun-fat's cop nemesis in John Woo's THE KILLER). For a brief period, the former colony played host to a wave of confrontational 'Category III' (Adults Only) movies, dominated by the work of controversial director Billy Tang. Already notorious for a scene in RUN AND KILL (1993) in which a little boy is burned alive in merciless detail, Tang proceeded to scale the heights of calculated outrage with RED TO KILL, arguably one of the most harrowing films ever made.Orphaned by the death of her parents, a mentally handicapped young woman (Lily Chung) is remanded to the care of a hostel for the disabled, where she falls prey to 'benevolent' caretaker Ben Ng, a musclebound hulk whose charming demeanour belies his true nature: Traumatized by a childhood incident in which his mother slaughtered his father and brother with a meat cleaver, drenching him in blood, Ng is prompted to murderous psychosis whenever he sees the colour red, resulting in horrific explosions of rape and murder. Unable to control himself when confronted by Chung wearing a long scarlet dress, Ng assaults her and is promptly arrested, but his indictment is later dismissed on a technicality, and the three main characters (including Money Lo as a sympathetic social worker) converge on the workshop beneath the hostel for a climactic showdown which closes proceedings on a note of ABSOLUTE SCREAMING HYSTERIA!! Judged alongside similar Asian atrocities, such as MEN BEHIND THE SUN (1987) or the infamous "Guinea Pig" series from Japan, RED TO KILL is either a fearless challenge to established cinematic limits or a reckless descent into the abyss, depending on your point of view. Photographed with stunning visual flair by Tony Mau and expertly edited by Choi Hung, the movie alternates scenes of naive sentimentality with eruptions of graphic horror, taking time to establish Chung's beauty and innocence before unleashing the forces of hell against her. But while Chung and Lo are dignified in adversity, Ng plays the villain as an unstoppable force of nature, literally throbbing with uncontrollable rage; his descent into complete psychosis during the hair-raising finale provokes a devastating rampage which is truly frightening to behold. Unsurprisingly, Ng has been typecast in villainous roles ever since.But the filmmakers' bravura technique, coupled with an obstinate lack of moral restraint, makes it difficult to defend the film's worst excesses. The protracted rape scenes are designed as a visual spectacle, showcasing the humiliation of vulnerable female characters. Worse still, following the sexual assault on Chung (the movie's pivotal set-piece), the actress is involved in a shocking episode of self-mutilation which not only degrades the entire production, but seems deliberately contrived to test viewers' patience to breaking point. However, despite its questionable motives, the film is executed with such breathtaking cinematic gusto, it compels attention in a way that few other horror movies have managed before or since.Director Tang continued his one-man assault on the boundaries of taste and decency with such inferior offerings as BROTHER OF DARKNESS (1994) and SEXY AND DANGEROUS (1996) before going 'legit' with a number of socially conscious dramas, beginning with Chinese MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (1997), featuring Ben Ng and HARD-BOILED's Tony Leung Chiu-wai.(Cantonese dialogue)

GathofBaal I've seen quite a few of Billy Tang's films, and I must say this is the best. The direction is great, Tang's penchant for blue lighting works perfectly with the material. Lily Chung plays a retarded girl who is sent to a home after the death of her father. Ben Ng plays the mild mannered director, who happens to be a psychotic killer and rapist, his violent impulses triggered by the color red. This is an awesome performance, ranking as one of the most entertaining film loony's I've ever seen (and that's no small number). While bleak, there is also plenty of humor, some unintentional, due to the poorly translated subtitles ("Crash your penis, cut it to make soup!"). Fans of HK horror will love this.