Reviewed by: Chuma Date: 02/23/2001 Summary: Sleepwalking and knives do not mix. Maggie goes to pick up her boyfriend Andy from the airport. Before she meets him, she notices him with another woman and he seems anxious when they get home. Maggie's friend Tammy, a police officer, gives her tips on how to find out about what he is up to. The next day she goes to meet Andy after work and finds him arguing with his boss. Back at home again Andy seems nervous and wants to go out, but Maggie stays home. During the night, two things happen: Andy's boss is killed and Maggie is seen sleepwalking carrying a dirty kitchenknife. Tammy and her fellow officers turn up to question Andy, but leave when he explains his alibi. However, a man on the street says he saw Maggie carrying a knife, so they go back to get her (right after Maggie asks Tammy to be her bridesmaid.) There is another murder in a carpark under similar circumstances to the first. This time the victim is the half sister of a rich businesswoman named Sharon Li. She is questioned, but let off. Soon after, Andy and Maggie are walking down the street when Sharon pulls up in a sportscar and asks Andy for directions. Back at home, Maggie learns that Sharon passed passed something to Andy when she pulled in the car and she gets upset. From there it gets a lot more complicated... This movie was OK I guess (especially considering the movie I saw it with). The main problem is that it doesn't really seem to make enough use of the characters and settings to make the movie really engaging. (Special mention must go to the movie poster, which is really nice and the reason I saw the movie in the first place.) Rating : 6/10

Reviewed by: j.crawford Date: 11/28/2000 Summary: Well-made thriller With this film opening in July, director Sam Ho had five movies in cinemas this year. After not directing a film since 1997, he worked this year with talented actors like Simon Yam, Anthony Wong, and Sam Lee. No big HK actors here, Conspiracy is notable for three reasons. The first reason is that the film features two young actresses who have recieved a lot of risque publicity, Sophie Ngan and Bessie Chan. Ms. Ngan is incredibly sexy and does well as the lusty "bad girl" of the story. Ms. Chan portrays the sexy, sweet "good girl". Both women appear semi-nude in the film. The second reason Conspiracy is notable is because Simon Lui appears in another film in a supporting role. This fine actor brings his usual flare to this movie. Lui gets to make love with Sophie Ngan, not bad work if you can get it. The third reason Conspiracy is notable is that there is not a screenwriting credit on the film. Stylistically, director Ho makes a major mistake right upfront. The title sequence, actually the last scene of the movie[slighty re-edited] played out of context, seems to be setting up a standard slasher movie. Actually, Conspiracy is a well made Hitchcockian thriller that lifts its major premise from the Master's Strangers on a Train. Ngan and Lui hook up with Micheal Tse in Thailand and they agree to exchange murders. When it comes time for Tse to keep his end of the bargain, he gets cold feet. Chan is suspected by the police and tormented by Tse's infidelity with Ngan. copyright 2000 J. Crawford Reviewer Score: 7