In my last post, I reviewed the classic action movie Hard Boiled, which combined the talents of Director John Woo and star thespian Chow Yun Fat. The Killer is another Hong Kong action movie classic that brings both of them together in an explosive plot.

Both movies belong to what is often called the ‘Heroic Bloodshed’ or Gunfu genre, characterized by stylized action sequences, gun fights, and fiercely loyal protagonists willing to sacrifice themselves for a cause. Most of these films end in tragedy after an explosive shootout.

Chow Yun Fat plays Jeff, a hitman for hire with a conscience, a role he has portrayed in many Gun-fu films. On one occasion, he goes to a nightclub where a singer named Jennie (Sally Yeh) is performing. Soon, the situation turns deadly, and Jeff finds himself embroiled in a gunfight where he accidentally blinds Sally.

Racked with guilt over causing her blindness, he tracks down her address and goes to see her. As he watches her, a bunch of thugs attempt to assault her. Jeff intervenes, rescues her, and walks her home.

A friendship builds between the two that soon becomes romantic. Soon, Jeff’s handler, Fung Sei, approaches Jeff to take out a new target, a Hong Kong official. The venue for the hit is a boat race where this official would be present.

Assigned to protect the official is vigilante cop Li Ying, who is under pressure from his superior for a botched sting operation. Jeff shoots the official dead at the race and makes his getaway with Li Ying in pursuit.

More hitmen arrive at the scene targeting Jeff. In the ensuing shootout, Jeff kills his attackers but then realizes that a small girl has been injured in the crossfire. Li Ying observes Jeff risking his own life by picking up the young child and driving to a hospital. Li Ying and his assistant attempt to apprehend Jeff at the hospital, but Jeff escapes.

Using a police drawing of Jeff, Li Ying discovers that Jeff was involved in the nightclub shooting where a woman was rendered blind. Li Ying has ambivalent feelings for Jeff. While he is determined to bring Jeff to justice, he is also impressed with Jeff’s sense of empathy in saving the young girl.

He deduces that Jeff would feel guilty for causing Jennie’s blindness and approaches Jennie to nab Jeff. The two men encounter each other again, first as adversaries. However, when they realize that gangster Wong Hoi (Shing Fui-on) has sent an army of assassins to kill Jeff, and that Jennie’s life is in danger, they team up to take on the killers.

With explosive action throughout, the plot moves quickly to a final shootout inside a church. Just as one would expect from John Woo, this movie showcases some exceptionally good but violent action scenes and ends in heroic tragedy. Lowell Lo provides the film’s haunting background music, and all the actors, particularly Chow Yun Fat, deliver fine performances.

Woo is also known for his sense of style, which is on full display in this movie, with the finely attired protagonists and the way the characters carry themselves. Of course, there are the double-handed pistol firing scenes and quite a few standoffs.

Critics consider The Killer an important movie in the Hong Kong gangster movie genre, and for good reason. Directors Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez claim to have been inspired by The Killer while making some of their own movies. Do not miss this high-octane film if you are a fan of action movies.