Reviewed by: gwailo Date: 05/31/2001 Summary: RETURN TO DARK....... An obvious 'love child' for writer/director/producer Leung Hung-wah, Return to Dark unfortunately is nothing new. Filled with the post handover aesthetic of icy blue hues, deserted HK landscapes, and down and out money grubbing characters, the film offers an interesting, albeit already cliched, view of the new Hong Kong. The characters are a caricature of 'hongkies', money hungry with desolate morals. "The Odd One Dies" pays a better homage to this contrived character and injects, a wacky, realism. Though "Return to Dark" is not without merit. There is some decent photography and the last shot of the film, refering to the current state of our beloved industry, will stay with you for quite a while.

Reviewed by: magic-8 Date: 01/27/2001 Summary: Tired B-movie "Return to Dark" is one of those derivative B-movies that looks like it was made quickly on the cheap. The plot involves three losers who rip off the mob and think they can get away with it. Ken Wong plays a mall security guard, who meets and recruits two strangers to help him steal from a triad mob leader. The film was produced, written and directed by Leung Hung Wa, who may have been watching too many bad movies and attempted to retread them all into one of his own efforts. Even the quirky mob hitman, played by Blacky Ko, with the bleach-blond hairdo and leopard spotted coat looked tired and uninteresting. His woman partner, played by Man Yee Man, was only momentarily diverting. Blacky and Man are called in to recover the stolen loot. When one cliche follows right after another, you find yourself groaning, thinking that maybe Leung Hung Wa would take the road less travelled. But, that was only wishful thinking, since I'd forgotten that it was the same Leung Hung Wa who wrote and produced "Take Five," one of the most painfully unfunny comedies I'd ever seen. This is yet another film where Anthony Wong seems to be on hand to collect a paycheck.