ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

LouHomey From my favorite movies..

Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

DipitySkillful an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

Count_Elvis_III Man, these Hong Kong CAT III films really are a sight to behold! Like this number from 1994, "Red to Kill", which is not only the best CAT III film I've seen so far, but also one of the most solid rape/ revenge flicks I've watched. Now, for those of you who have no idea what CAT III is, it's a rating in the HK film system, basically the equivalent of a hard R/ NC-17 in the MPAA's system. Because it's not technically a genre, but rather a rating, CAT III films are really diverse, but when most people use CAT III to describe a film, they're talking about a particular type of CAT III films that are often filled with rape, gore and other taboo subject matter, often adding a good helping of goofy comedy to the mix. Anyway, the plot to "Red to Kill" is both absurd and absolutely tasteless. It's about a guy who runs a school for retarded people by day and rapes as well as sometimes murders women wearing red at night. You see, when this guy was a little kid he watched his mother, who was wearing red kill his father with the help of her boyfriend. During the struggle, his mother fell on a meat cleaver, killing her as well. Well, flash forward a few years later and the sight of red on a woman is enough to make this guy go bonkers. After raping and murdering a few nameless women at the start of the film he rapes one of his students. She survives and testifies against him in court, but the guy gets off Scott free, so her sister decides to bring justice, HK CAT III style! Any who, "Red to Kill" is a sweet film. It has a very groovy score and well as a solid script for a film like this. Likewise it boasts several strong performances and director Bill Tang brings a lot of imagination to this one, handling all the different elements of this film very nicely. I also dug the scenes where the rapist stalks his victims as it has a very gritty feel that would be right at home alongside two of the most notorious American exploitation offerings of the early 1980's, "Maniac" and "Don't Go in the House". Overall a really solid and enjoyable film, check it out if you like mess up movies, otherwise you MIGHT want to stay clear of this one.

BA_Harrison A lurid and sleazy piece of gratuitously violent exploitation, Red To Kill will either have you switching off in disgust or glued to the screen in complete awe, such are the levels of excess committed to celluloid in this notorious Hong Kong shocker. Personally, I loved it, but then I've always had rather 'dubious' taste in films.Ben Ng plays Chi Wai Chan, a seemingly mild-mannered care-worker at a home for the retarded; however, it transpires that, as a child, he was badly traumatised by a violent family incident and as a result, he isn't quite right in the head. Now, when Chi sees the colour red, he becomes a sweaty, sex-crazed, spittle-flecked maniac who rapes and kills with sadistic glee.When Ming Ming (Lily Chung), an orphaned retarded girl with a love of dance, accidentally flashes the gusset of her red knickers to Chi, and later wears a red dress for a dance performance, she becomes the latest victim of the twisted lunatic, suffering a brutal sex attack.Chi is arrested, but is later freed on a technicality. Ming Ming's social worker and close friend Ka Lok Cheung (Money Lo) vows revenge. She follows Chi to a bar, dressed in a sexy red outfit, and teases him enough to cause him to wig out and go postal in a finale which has to be seen to be believed.Director Billy Tang, who gave us the stylishly sick Dr. Lamb, goes all out to offend the sensibilities with what may be the most repulsive, yet compelling movie to ever be awarded the Category III rating. Just setting a rape/revenge movie in a home for the mentally handicapped might be considered reason enough for most to avoid this film, but fans of extreme cinema will be delighted. If you are able to look beyond the questionable subject matter, it is not hard to admire Tang's audacity as he enthusiastically ladles on the excess.Lily Chung and Money Lo both give excellent assured performances, but it is Ben Ng as the crazed sex-fiend Chi, who steals the show. His transformation from gentle care-worker to deranged muscle-bound, sledgehammer-wielding rapist is a joy to behold and goes to the top of my list of all-time favourite cinematic psychos (sneaking just ahead of Anthony Wong as Bunman).Given the extreme nature of Red To Kill, one should think carefully before viewing. Even if you are an experienced Cat III junkie, be prepared to have your jaw hit the floor at least once or twice during this relentlessly harrowing and sleazy tale.

Joseph P. Ulibas Red to Kill (1994) was one of the many Hong Kong films that were produced during the mid nineties to fall under the Category III rating. 1997 was fast approaching and many film makers knew that the heavy hand of censorship from the Chinese government would make these films null and void in the future. Many film makers were making these cheap and exploitive films so they could not only make a few bucks but take advantage of the lack film censorship board. Category III films become a genre all in it's own. Originally it was for films that were to intense for Category IIB. But as these movies got popular, the films began to form a sub genre all there own. When one watches a Category III film they expect two things (strong sex and bloody violence). This film delivers on all accounts and they're for viewers 18 and older!Red to Kill is about a mentally retarded woman (Lily Cheung)who is sent to live in a mental institution when her care taking mother passes away. Her social worker (Money Lo) sends her to a place where she'll learn to work with others. A worker at the home (Ben Ng) has a strong affection for her, but he has a dark side (and a dark one indeed). IL' Ben has a thing for red and it makes in go bonkers. One day poor simple Lily wears red around Ben. Will he be able to contain himself or will he fall to his urges?You'll never see a twisted and disturbing movie like this. It was films like this that defined the Category three genre. Billy Tang has one depraved mind (that's good for film making). This movie pulls no punches in showing the mind of a psycho. Too bad they'll never make movies like these ever again. If you like twisted and gory films look no further because Red To Kill has everything you expect from a movie like this.Hard Core!!!Highly recommended.

HumanoidOfFlesh "Red to Kill" is one of the classic Category III psycho-sicko flicks.It is about the teacher of retarded children who goes completely crazy in front of color red because of one trauma.He falls in love with one of his students,a childlike teenage girl but soon discovers her red underwear.What follows is an unspeakable acts of terror,rape,self mutilation and very disturbing violence."Red to Kill" is extremely strong and disturbing piece of horror.This is the kind of film even 'jaded' HK cinema fans seem to dislike and judge as sick and repellent.Of course it's gratuitous but has also some interesting points and thoughts about society's care for retarded people who can,and sometimes are much more 'human' and kind than the normal ones.The scene after he brutally raped one of the retarded girls where she is standing alone in the shower traumatised and hacking away at her pubic hair with a razor blade whilst murmuring "dirty...dirty...dirty!" is a jaw dropper.So if you're a fan of extreme cinema give this little gem a look.9 out of 10.