Dog Bite Dog (2006) User Reviews

Violent Noir of a Certain Pedigree

[Adorable · 8/10 · 17 August 2006]

Finally we have before us a Category III movie for the summer 2006 season. Made of equal parts cruelty, crime and passion, Dog Bite Dog benefits not merely from an apt title, but also flexible direction, superb cinematography and respectable performances from most involved. Of course there has to be a catch, manifested here in the form of several glaring inconsistencies, yet all told DBD represents the mature spirit we'd love to see more of in the HK mainstream.

It also marks the heralded return of Edison Chen, long absent since the Initial D debacle of a year ago. Chen's reserved machismo does wonders for the movie, yet would have had it rough without opposite Sam Lee, whose knack for alternating between physical comedy (Crazy 'N' the City, No Problem 2) and lunatic menace has culminated in the strongest role we've seen from him since Made in Hong Kong.

Together, the duo makes Dog Bite Dog, and hopefully Edison's going to get an easier break from now on as a consequence: his touch transformed projects from Princess D to the Infernal Affairs saga, and still he remains a rare occurrence.

Mostly upon commencing, DBD showcases some mesmerizing imagery, playing gorgeous tricks with light, shadow and perspective. The soundtrack boosts this atmospheric effect, adding to the overall unreal mood the film purveys. Much of the resultant combination probably has to do with writer Matt Chow, previously engaged in likewise gruesome Three Extremes. Dog Bite Dog retains numerous traits recalled from that horror project, namely rundown urbanscapes and a pervasive air of something eerie lurking round the corner.

Rest assured, though, this isn't a horror movie, instead following a path trodden before by classic One Nite in Mongkok, albeit from a miles more perverse angle. Replacing Daniel Wu's reluctant mainland assassin character we have Edison, playing a nameless killing machine hailing from Cambodia's underworld. Sent Hong Kong-way to execute a single target, the nearly silent assassin takes care of business immediately upon arrival, a process chillingly depicted courtesy of the film's brilliant visuals.

Although weaned from childhood to become a professional killer, Edison's eponymous wild dog still has human weaknesses and leaves a trail, picked up on by a CID team sent to investigate. This assembly features a nice cameo by mob-movie stalwart Lam Suet, and good support from TV star Wayne Lai. However, Sam Lee's renegade officer Wai leads the charge, revealing himself to be a highly disturbed individual but excellent cop nonetheless. We gradually learn Wai's inner-conflict stems from his father's police corruption background, evoking demons handy in the relentless pursuit that ensues.

A minor body count transpires, as Edison seems to consider taking prisoners a no-no. There's quite the violence quotient in store, even though gore per se feels toned down in places, and adult language only makes a token appearance. Once more, no nudity, leading one to conclude Cat III's are being handed these days a bit hastily. Still, DBD's a relatively mature theatrical release, and we applaud its arrival.

In between the fighting, stabbing , hacking and shooting, even a career murderer needs some romance, and just like Daniel Wu had Cecilia Cheung in One Nite, so does intrepid Mr. Chen get a sweetheart, done beautifully by new comer Pei Pei. Her unnamed character (lots of anonymity in this one) meets Edison's at a strangely deserted landfill, abused by her father to the point of repulsive madness and yearning for escape. When the killer ditches HK, he agrees to take her with him, and they go on the run together, love blooming en route. While the movie doesn't linger on lovey-dovey stuff, our hearts go out to Pei Pei's tragic character and her endless suffering. She renders the timid but valiant protagonist amazingly well, establishing that there aren't any good or bad guys here, evinced by the highly sobering finale.

Director Cheang Soi's portfolio includes recent suspense thriller Home Sweet Home and Love Battlefield with Eason Chan, two numbers likely surpassed in most accounts by Dog Bite Dog's sinister demeanor. Cheang manages to keep DBD flowing throughout, and considering the many parts in play here, stands up to critical standards erected by people like Johnny To in his watershed nocturnal epic The Mission. A couple of glitches do come about, to wit Edison miraculously shrugging off a shot to the chest, but these are highly forgivable.

Marking triumphant returns for two young, talented performers of the kind Hong Kong needs if we want the city's movie heyday to come back, Dog Bite Dog doesn't stand out for story. Its forte lies in strong portrayals and style, buoyed along on the strength of thespian muscle and a keen eye for visual and auditory finesse.

HK has a long, time-honored tradition of stories to do with the city's nighttime alter-ego, something Dog Bite Dog upholds lovingly, amounting to a solid run if not an outright masterpiece.

Rating: * * * *

Bridges the Gap . . .

[illeatyourdog · 8/10 · 14 January 2008]

Those individuals familiar with Asian cinema, as a whole, are aware that Japan is renowned, or notorious, for it's hyper-violent films and Korea is now garnering a reputation for viciously brutal films. Dog Bites Dog, while not necessarily getting as hyper-violent as the craziest Miike film, nor is it as unapologetically brutal as some Koreas more ambitious efforts, it is a perfect in between with its own brand of brutality all it's own. The greatest strength this film has though, like the greatest of the Japanese or Korean efforts, is that the brutality, rather than detracting from the film, actually develops the characters, if not, pushing the story forward. The two main characters are both incredibly vicious individuals with their own motivations and emotional underpinning for being as such. Sam Lee's character, for instance, is on the edge from the very start and slowly and surely, amidst various encounters with Chang's character, it is revealed why he is. Without spoiling this part of the story too much, it involves the morally ambiguous nature of his father. Chang's character, on the other hand, has his most primal instincts honed to, if not perfection, brutal efficiency. Surprisingly, Chang's story arch, while not necessarily revealing a more human side, actually reveals a side to our animal nature which many forget about which is the natural ability to recognize a fellow broken animal (and no I am not talking about Sam Lee, rather Pei Pei's garbage dump girl character). Ultimately however, for the first 80 minutes or so, it is a, more or less, straight forward cat and mouse, or Dog chase Dog, film in which every encounter ends in at least one death (seriously, once Sam Lee and Chang Square off, some one will die) and the fun part of movie is you never know who hands will commit the act. Which brings us to the film's one weakness. Unforunatley to delve into it would be yet another spoiler but, to put it simply, it is guilty of pushing one of the main points of the film since, rather then letting the point be made as is 80 minutes into the film, the film goes on for another 20 minutes or so to further emphasize it. Don't get me wrong, if transitioned better from the 80 minute mark to the climax and if the final act wasn't filled with sweet music (in fact if it, like the majority of the film, kept the music to the barest minimum and let the disturbing sound effects do their job), it still could have worked and not detract from the film. As it is though, despite the third act having the most vicious and bloody of the encounters, the way it was handled made it feel tacked on, and almost, insults the viewers intelligence since it felt it had to go this far to get it across. Nevertheless, it is still a breath of fresh air from Hong Kong cinema since even the most bloody of the martial arts films never reaches the level of viciousness and brutality while keeping the the character archs in tact.

Crazy

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 1 April 2007]

If I had to describe the movie in one word ... You can make up your mind if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I kinda liked the movie and even it's crazy style. I have to say that I'm a fan of HK movies overall. Although I can't say that this is typical HK Action film. Because it ain't! I don't really know how to describe it, but if you have seen the movie "Danny the Dog" than at least you will have seen another actor play the "dog" role ...

Of all the crazy things that are happening here (and you couldn't believe that those things could be happening in the "real" world), the one thing that is most disturbing, is the end. And that is where it loses some points (at least 1 in my opinion). It's not only an overblown ending, it's also overly dramatic. You might like it, but it surely isn't for everyone!

Fatalism, Nihilism, And Unbridled Violence

[cyguration · 7/10 · 3 February 2020]

There's a bit of a story about the sins of the father tucked away underneath Gau ngao gau's (Dog Bite Dog in English) unrelenting violence, but it's small and wisps away like fleeting warm breath on a cold day.

The movie is about a Cambodian hitman played by Edisen Chen who gets hunted across the streets of Thailand for committing a brutal murder. Unable to speak the language and having no second thoughts about killing anyone in his path (e.g., man, woman, cop or otherwise) Chen's ruthless hitman attempts to make his way back to Cambodia. The road isn't easy and a small team of dedicated cops with their own dirty past attempt to stop him, almost by any means necessary.

Other reviews are right on the money that this film is absolutely nihilistic. It's shot well, but also shot to make Thailand look as filthy as possible. Large parts of the movie take place in dark alleys, landfills, and the slums.

There are no redeeming values to any of the characters save for one character who gets caught up in the middle of it, but this isn't a feel good movie and all logical conclusions would point to an ending that satisfies the movie's main themes while you're watching it.

There aren't many fantastical or too many outlandish elements about the movie. It mostly maintains a realistic pace and outcome for the encounters, but the grit, grime, and fatalistic overtones might easily put most viewers off.

I would say that if you have a happy movie lined up to watch afterward, definitely give Dog Bite Dog a go. If you're feeling depressed or down or sullen or nihilistic? Well, you might want to pass on this one until it's sunny outside and the birds are chirping a chipper tune.

A film with bite.

[BA_Harrison · 7/10 · 5 October 2007]

Some comments here on IMDb have likened Dog Bite Dog to the classic Cat III films of the 90s, but although it is undoubtedly brutal, violent and very downbeat, this film from Pou-Soi Cheang isn't really sleazy, lurid or sensationalist enough to earn that comparison. However, it still packs a punch that makes it worth a watch, particularly if gritty, hard-edged action is your thing.

Edison Chen plays Pang, a Cambodian hit-man who travels to Hong Kong to assassinate the wife of a judge; Sam Lee is Wai, the ruthless cop who is determined to track him down, whatever the cost. With Wai closing in on his target, Pang will stop at nothing to ensure his escape—until he meets Yue, a pretty illegal immigrant who needs his help to escape her life of abuse.

A relentlessly harsh drama with great cinematography, amazing sound design, a haunting score, and solid performances from Chen and Lee (as well as newcomer Pei Pei as Pang's love interest), Dog Bite Dog is one for fans of hard-hitting Asian hyper-violence (think along the lines of Chan-wook Park's Vengeance trilogy). Stabbings, shootings, merciless beatings: all happen regularly in this film and are caught unflinchingly by director Cheang.

Of course, this is the kind of tale that is destined to have an unhappy ending for all involved, and sure enough, pretty much everyone in this film dies (rather nasty deaths). Unfortunately, there is a fine line between tragedy and (unintentional) comedy, and in its final moments, Dog Bite Dog crosses it: in a laughably over-dramatic final scene, Pang and Wai are locked in battle as a pregnant Yue looks on. Eventually, after all three have suffered severe stab wounds during the fracas, a wounded Pang performs a DIY Ceasarean on (a now dead) Yue, delivering their baby moments before he himself dies.

Whilst this film might not be a 'classic' slice of Hong Kong excess, with its deliriously OTT action and stylish visuals, it's still worth seeking out.

Dark and violent Thriller-Drama, that exceeds boundaries

[the_diceman · 9/10 · 10 March 2007]

One of the most nihilistic and brutal films I've ever seen, but also one of the most tragic and moving ones. This is an action-melodrama like the world has never seen it before. Sometimes the plot got me close to tears, while in the next moment delivering shocking revelations like a bone-crunching blow to the guts. Chilling performance by Edison Chen. The story of a HK-Cop and a Cambodian killer hunting each other down, while bit by bit losing their humanity, is a strong one. Featuring very little dialog in favor of haunting imagery and gritty camera-work, "Dog bite Dog" is pure HK-Bloodshed without the Heroism.

Grim violent police story but very well made

[joeshoe89 · 7/10 · 3 December 2006]

I watched the DVD of this movie which also comes with an excellent commentary track (in English). It seems in Cambodia (the subtitles in English say the character is speaking Thai but the movie says Cambodia)a very violent evil man is raising boys to be killers using starvation and training them to fight and kill. He sends Pang to kill some people in China and during the killings a cop's partner is killed. The cop Wai is a loose cannon who is worried about his father who is also a cop who was shot and is in a coma. Wai's chief is his dad's friend and is worried about Wai's erratic behavior. He doesn't know Wai was the one who caught his dad in dealing with drug dealers and shot him and put him into the coma. Pang escapes and hides in a squalid landfill shack where he meets a woman who came here to find her mother and keeps repeating her father won't let her leave (Pang doesn't speak Chinese and doesn't understand this but saves her from her father who appears to be having sex with her maybe this is the reason for Cat III). Wai becomes more and more obsessed with getting Pang but Pang is almost unstoppable. Even after Pang steals a boat and takes the woman to his home where they are married and she becomes pregnant Wai follows and joins the evil man (who's training the boys)making a deal to fight and train so he can get Pang. There is a big showdown between Wai and Pang with the terribly abused woman the major victim and leaving Wai dead and Pang cutting out his child from the dead mother only to die and leave him as the possible next boy to be raised as a killer. This film is beautifully photographed with an excellent soundtrack. There are many very brutal violent scenes. The woman having a long nail pulled out of her foot. Knives to the neck and torso. Guns fired directly to the head. And several very intense beatings. It maybe grim intense and downbeat but it is definitely worth seeing.

Dark, gritty, raw and very VERY disturbing!

[Coventry · 9/10 · 7 April 2007]

It's remarkable and quite praiseworthy how writers and directors continue to make great movies out of one of the oldest and most (over)used story lines in cinema! "Dog Bite Dog" is basically not much more than just the simple story of an lone copper obsessively chasing a brilliant criminal, only Pou-Soi Cheang distinguishes his film from the rest by being extremely violent & relentless. This is unquestionably one of the grittiest and most uncompromising movies I've ever seen, with an atmosphere of constant nihilism and characters that seem to come walking straight out of hell! Not even the installments in Chan-Wook Park's trilogy of vengeance (with the exception of "Oldboy", perhaps) or any other infamous Cat-III film ever released were as sadistic and brutal as some of the events depicted in "Dog Bite Dog". Pang is a young and ruthless Cambodian assassin who lands in the crowded streets of Hong Kong to eliminate the wife of an eminent judge in a restaurant. When the police arrives at the place, young officer Wai sees how Pang hastily flees from the scene of the crime and follow him. The first actual confrontation between the two rabid dogs results in a gigantic blood bath, as Pang mercilessly kills several hostages and even Wai's long time friend and colleague. From then on begins a thrilling and action-packed cat and mouse game between the frustrated cop and the professional killer. The latter also saves a young girl from the constant sexual abuse of her father and stays with her at her shed in the local garbage dump. What makes this routine action/thriller so fascinating (apart from the explicit violence) are the main characters' backgrounds! Pang, the hit-man, is a Cambodian orphan and has been trained to fight & kill for money ever since he was a child. He knows no restrictions, has no mercy and barely speaks a word. Wai, the cop, became particularly ruthless and unorthodox ever since his role-model father (also a cop) lies in a coma after a drug-related incident. Lai doesn't question suspects and witnesses; he yells at them and he's prepared to sacrifice everything in order to stop his brand new nemesis. People with a weak stomach or tangled nerves are advised to stay away from this film, because the cruelty and shocks featuring in "Dog Bite Dog" can easily cause nausea. It's not the type of violence where bloodied heads and chopped off limbs fly through the air, but more like the intense and utterly disturbing type where people attempt to crush their opponents mentally as well as physically. The filming locations are effectively dark and eerie and the extremely sober music makes the already harrowing tone of the movie even more petrifying. The performances are terrific! I wouldn't be surprised if Edison Chen and Sam Lee treated each other like enemies on the film set as well, because their on screen hatred and disgust feels a little too legitimate. "Dog Bite Dog" is a powerful and unforgettable film, highly recommended if you can stomach it. If you fear you can't, just wait a few years for the inevitable American remake which will unquestionably soften the premise a little.

Ultra-grim stuff in the "Run and Kill" mode

[fertilecelluloid · 7/10 · 7 October 2006]

Ultra-grim crime drama from Pou-Soi Cheang, the director of "Home Sweet Home". Tonally, it reminded me of Billy Tang's "Run and Kill", although it's not as polished as that. Nevertheless, it's an engaging, flawed bit of mayhem about a Cambodian loner, Pang (Edison Chen), who arrives in Hong Kong to kill a lawyer. While fleeing the scene, he kills the partner of cop Sam Wai, who, to add insult to injury, is in the midst of dealing with his dying father, so Sam begins an insane, obsessive manhunt for Pang that results in close to a dozen dead bodies and relentless violence. There must be something in the air lately because I've never seen so many humans beating the pulp out of each other as I have lately. This is grim, nasty stuff, which is why I'm so partial to it, and I applaud its downbeat vibe. It's visually arresting and the sound design is very unique. Dramatically, everything spirals downwards until every character finds him- or herself in a world of screaming pain. A subplot involving Pang's attachment to a sexually abused girl adds depth to the story and spawns a surprise fourth act which boasts a fine act of grotesque surgery.

Hong Kong cop/gangster cinema

[slake09 · 5/10 · 12 August 2007]

All the good reviews you're reading - those are from big HK cinema buffs, and they are correct from their point of view; it's a lot better than the majority of the cop/gangster films coming out of HK. The plot has already been reviewed, so I'll skip that. It's enough to say that this film does have a plot, much more so than I expected.

On the other hand, this isn't some fine piece of film making compared to what's available from the rest of the world. The characters are so totally unbelievable it will make you cringe. Informers are always scared wimps to be slapped around, cops are tough guys who do the slapping and the hit man is a super tough bad guy who talks little and kills a lot. If informers were so easily intimidated, why would other criminals have anything to do with them? If cops were that uniformly brutal they'd be arresting each other, because no one else would live in such a society. The hit man in this case at least had an excuse for being taciturn and psychotic.

If you really like Asian cinema, especially HK cinema, then you'll like this one a lot. If you're not a big fan, better go rent something else.

Wonderful show

[van_der_vaart · 9/10 · 21 October 2006]

This has to be one of the best movies to come out of HK in a long time, i was eagerly waiting to get my hands on this movie just looking at the title. Loads of fantastic actors in this show and i was particularly impressed with Sam Lee's impossibly believable insane behavior and Edison's portrayal of a killer machine, which totally reversed his normal idol image. i would definitely recommend to those looking for a stylish and action packed movie. However, i must warn you, this is also an equally depressing movie, as every character in the movie is in some kind of dead end and trouble of their own, and struggling to breathe. Makes you think about what is life about really.

Well made decent into a violent world where there is no hope

[dbborroughs · 6/10 · 19 May 2007]

A man raised in Cambodia to fight and die in gladiatorial like fights is brought to Hong Kong in order to kill someone. After the hit goes down he finds himself being chased by a police detective who is probably even more messed up than he is.

As a technical achievement this film is a triumph. It looks great and has a style thats all it own. Its in your face style keeps you riveted and abused. In an almost real way you're there being beaten about. This is, in its way one of the best looking films to come out of Asia in 2006.

As an viewing experience this is a tough film to take. From the opening frames its clear that this is not going to be a happy story and its tale of revenge and escape becomes even harder to take. This is a bleak tale that has no hope anywhere in it. The action sequences are gritty and realistic with an edge that makes them more a slap in the face than spectacle of entertainment. People bleed and die horrible deaths. No good deed goes unpunished nor is any bad deed not made worse by circumstance. Its a trip into a world where there is no light. After awhile it becomes an endurance test to see who's going to expire first the audience or the people on the screen. As good as the film is, and it is good, it all becomes too much, especially when you kind of know how its going to come out.

Worth a look for those who can deal with the violence and the utter despair. (should probably be an 8 out of 10 but its just so bleak)

Wow, are you kidding me?

[viet_thien2069 · 3/10 · 13 November 2009]

After watching this film, I was left with a two very annoyances about this film: why did they make Chen's character this "McGuyver hit-man" and Lee's character such an incompetent idiot? Chen's character's background is that he was raised in an underground Cambodian orphanage for blood thirsty fighter where they learn to brawl it out to the death like wild "dogs." This detail is pushed early on during a scene where he gets into a cab and as it starts to drive, he shows how he is unfamiliar with a seat belt. Soon after this scene, he has a similar situation at a dim sum restaurant. Not only is he uneducated, he is starving. This is not a reference to Chen's scrawny physique but to the two early scenes in the film where he is scarfing down food, one of which, being rice porridge off the floor of the lower deck on an old ship. Si in the first ten minutes of the film, it is established that Chen is malnutrition-ed, unmodernized,and has only thing going for him, his "dog" brawling fighting style of some sort. Despite this situation, Chen manages to out-shoot every policeman (even managing to ricochet a bullet off a metal pipe to hit a guy in a head, whom was holding Chen's girlfriend hostage) and has somehow attained a super human strength (swings a 50 lb block of concrete, plastered on the end of a metal pipe, to the head of the police chief AS he is getting shot in the chest, by said chief).

Now Lee's character...okay, I get it, he's depressed, he's got some baggage, but wow, can he do anything right? One moment, they try to make him cool, composed and ready to take care of business, and the next moment, he just got beat again. First scene he runs into Chen, and he manages to misses him, from approx 15 ft, multiple times. Toward the end of that scene, Lee watches Chen as his close friend and coworker gets slowly stabbed in the neck with a long knife for a good full 5 seconds, while holding a gun to Chen face, at a 10 ft distance. Even at the end of the movie, Lee manages to get stabbed to death and fails once again.

And my biggest problem with this movie is that it is presented in a manner that film makers are trying to get the audience to sympathize with Chen's character and that he is just "killing to survive." That would be a lot easier if I didn't just watch Chen kill innocent people throughout the whole awful movie. Of the numerous people he killed, only two people had the intention of trying to kill him, the police chief and Lee. Others were just people who were eating, boat owners, taxi drivers, and policemen trying to arrest him, not kill. Overall, Chen's character is a just a cold blooded killer who kills for what he wants, even if its just a free ride. (Did I mention he is carrying a wad of hundred dollar bills throughout most of the film?) My 3 stars go to some of the interesting director/camera work who got in some nice shots.

Bottomline: One made for the nut-hugging Chen fans. For me, "Dog Bite This DVD"

Off The Muthaf!ckin' Chain...

[EVOL666 · 9/10 · 7 August 2007]

I gotta be straight-up - I haven't seen a film as solid as DOG BITE DOG in quite a while. I'm a big fan of the "old-school" late 80s to mid 90s era CATIII films, and I had been hearing that that "style" of films is making a bit of a come-back with films such as this, and Herman Yau's GONG TAU (which as of this writing I have not yet seen...), so I was very interested to give some of these newer-wave CATIII films a shot. Did this film live up to my expectations? Absolutely - but not quite in the fashion that I imagined.

The story follows a young, animalistic, resourceful and virtually unstoppable Thai hit-man with a somewhat vague history who comes to Hong Kong to complete a "mission". Due to some bad-luck, he is quickly identified by a roguish copy (who exudes many of the same qualities as our hit-man), and is quickly apprehended and captured. This state of affairs doesn't last long though, as the un-named assassin escapes from his captors and quickly shows the local police that he is not to be taken lightly. The hunt is on, and a cat-and-mouse game between the police and the "mad dog" (as the police refer to him) ensues. Along the way, Mad Dog is inadvertently befriended by a slow-witted young woman, and a bond forms between the two when she helps him out of a sticky situation. The ante keeps getting upped as Mad Dog's only objective is to get out of Hong Kong and back to Thailand by any means necessary, and the cops keep trying to reel him in alive...

I could probably write ten paragraphs about this complex and thoroughly layered film, but I don't want to give too much away. I watched DOG BITE DOG knowing nothing about the premise, and I think it's the type of film that is definitely better appreciated that way. As to comparisons to the older-style CATIII films...there are some similarities. DOG BITE DOG has some hyper-violent moments reminiscent of the "good ol' days", but is never quite as sleazy or grimy as old-school classicks like THE UNTOLD STORY or RED TO KILL. Where many of the older CATIII films' main intention was to "shock" - DOG BITE DOG is a far more thought-out and well-rounded production (though that's not to take ANYTHING away from those CATIII films that I hold so dear...). This film is far more "emotional" than it is exploitative, and as we learn more about the characters and their backgrounds, the audience begins to bond and identify with both sides. There really are no clear-cut "good" and "bad" guys, as Mad Dog shows moments of extreme compassion, and the cops stoop to extremely unorthodox methods to try to flesh out the killer. There's also no nudity/sex in this film, which is a typical characteristic of the older CATIII films. Personally, I would compare DOG BITE DOG more to Park's SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE or perhaps the Pang brother's BANGKOK DANGEROUS, as both of those films mixed extremely emotional overtones with strong and unflinching action and violence. Again - there's pretty much nothing that I didn't like about this film. The acting is dead-on, the cinematography is sharp and well done, and the whole film skillfully blends several different elements successfully in a way that isn't seen very often. Is this film (and others like it...) the "rebirth" of the CATIII film - not exactly - but it IS a very solid film that's absolutely worth checking out...9/10

Amazing crime thriller, that never lets up..

[Indyrod · 9/10 · 30 January 2007]

As I understand it, after the Chinese took over Hong Kong, the infamous Cat. 3 Hong Kong movies kind of disappeared. At least until now, and what an amazing movie this one is. I knew it was a rough crime drama going in, but being the first Cat. 3 I've purchased that's been made recently, I wasn't sure what to expect.

A Cambodian hit-man goes to Hong Kong to knock off the wife of a judge, who is also a lawyer. Turns out, the Judge made the arrangements for the hit-man, because she was divorcing the judge, and threatening to take all his money. This is all known within the first ten minutes, so nothing is being given away. After the hit, the cops locate the hit-man pretty fast, but in trying to arrest him, several police officers and civilians are killed. He eludes the police and now the race is on to catch the guy, before he escapes back to Cambodia. This is a movie that never stops, and hardly gives the viewer a chance to catch their breath. Yes, it is very violent and intense, many cops are killed, as the hit-man proves very very hard to track, and take down when they do locate him. Along the way, the hit-man in trying to hide in a dump, finds a women being raped and mistreated by some man. He helps her, and saves her from the guy, and she persuades the hit-man to take her along with him in his escape. I loved this movie, it's like a roller-coaster that just keeps moving and moving at high speed, as one incident leads to another, and the police at times are just as bad or worse as the hit-man. The acting is exceptionally good, and the location filming and photography is at time breathtaking. There's no let up in this movie, not even with the very very incredible ending. The ending is pretty much unbelievable, and also a fitting end to all the action and violence. Yes, the violence is brutal at times, but this is a very no nonsense crime drama, that will knock your socks off. "Dog Eat Dog" definitely needs a more widespread release, including an R1 release for sure. Great movie, highly recommended.

Worst Movie Ever

[hrt2 · 1/10 · 4 November 2007]

This is the worst movie I have ever seen in my entire life. The plot and message are horrible. There are too many mistakes in this movie that it's impossible to keep up. I don't even understand how this movie can get any nomination, let alone 2. Here's why: 1) Sam Lee portrays a angry/irrational detective which was caused by the disappointment from his dad. Pros: He's angry alright. Cons: When it comes to the explanation scene, he cannot convey the sadness/disappointment he has in his father. The crying scene was too fake and it seems like he is literally squeezing out tears from the corner of his eyes.

2) To connect the movie to the title, there were barking or dog wimping sounds during the fight scenes and rape scene, which is totally irrelevant and confusing to the viewer. I understand that it's supposed to be a metaphor or what not... but it's just sooo dumb! 3) WHY THE HECK DID THE COPS NOT SHOOT THE KILLER? What the heck is wrong with this movie. When the killer started stabbing an officer, SHOOT him. He's already dead! What the heck? There were lots of opportunity that the killer could be killed, but I do not know why he wasn't! 4) During the scene where the girl had her foot hurt. In the scene, it was very clear that the LEFT foot of the girls was hurt, so how the heck in the next scene that she's lending all her weight on her left foot? And this is the actress nominated as the best new performer? WTF? 5) The sounds in the movie are off sync.

6) I am guessing that this movie is trying to bring awareness of the brutality and violence among children in South East Asia, so why does the bad guy wins and then the cop was joining the fight? 7) This movie is just too violent without a purpose. Cops are beating CI to a pulp and then if they cooperate, they give them marijuana and coke? This is overall the worst movie. I truly feel that the person who wrote this movie is a sadist and sick person. I have never seen a more disgusting movie in my whole entire life. WORST MOVIE EVER!

HK Neo Reviews: Dog Bite Dog

[webmaster-3017 · 10/10 · 12 October 2010]

Simply....breathtakingly brilliant...

Phew…breathless…Ha……breathing…what a good movie and what an amazing ride? This is what movies are about, and this is the reason, Neo keeps watching bad HK movies. Dog Bite Dog is not only the Love Battlefield's director best movie ever, but undoubtedly the best movie of the last two years. This is what true HK cinema lovers are waiting for. This is the movie that stamps a huge mark on the viewers and perhaps a place in HK cinema history. To be perfectly honest, Neo haven't been this excited after a movie for years and finally this one delivers. It is that good, it is that impacting and it is that brilliant. As I said before, when I love movie, I overlook its flaws, but this one have none and at the very least, it captured and got hold of my heart. Seriously if you are reading this review, right at this very moment and still haven't watch Dog Bite Dog, go bite yourself and run or whatever straight to the local DVD shop and bite on it! It's a movie you cannot miss!

Writing this review right now, within just minutes after viewing this extraordinary experience, I am shocked, moved and absolutely uplifted. Nothing is better than finding a gem in a sea of recycle water and Dog Bite Dog is like that in 2006 HK cinema. I am not exaggerating; it is exactly how I feel right now. For someone who have been criticising Edison for his singing, acting and dancing for almost his whole career with the exception of Jiang Hu, Neo is still shocked to the max, that such a person like Edison is capable of such performance. Not unlike Jet Li's Danny the Dog, director Soi Cheang, uses similar themes, but make the movie 30 times better. It is unforgettable and cruel experience to endure through the brutality of humanity and the meaningless yet meaningful aspect of life.

Sam Lee, the actor who deems his way through supporting roles and leading roles in B-movies, have done something that he will be proud of. Perhaps a performance that will change his life and the direction of his acting future; it is a heck of a brilliant and absolutely award winning performance. His brutal eyes and expressions of angry are terrifying and his transformation is utterly and brutally memorable. Sam Lee has matured into an actor and perhaps after years and years of appearing in crappy movies, he has decided to stamp a point about himself. Alright, let's make a bold statement here: SAM LEE WILL WIN BEST ACTOR AWARD FOR 2006 HK FILMS AWARD! Edison Chen, Edison Chen, Edison Chen… what can I say? A transformational performance and a career defining moment, Edison has put out a heck of a memorable performance. As a dog, he is aimless, with ultimate goal of killing for survival and the way he changes throughout his experiences of love and anger is both extraordinary and beautiful to watch. Two thumbs up from Neo and you are officially a better actor than Ekin Cheng.

The innocent girl played a role that limits her abilities, but for once it was not a pretty face that shines through, but a performance that underlines the beauty of smile, even when all hopes are lost. She is fighter, a symbol of hope and a passion for love. It is tiny moments of her smile that made the movie all the more credible and also perfectly juxtaposing the brutality with peace within oneself. Love is a power tool, not only to fix things, but changes people and peace within oneself.

With that been said, director Soi Cheang is a genius at making emotional packed ending as seen in Love Battlefield and Home Sweet Home. Here, Soi Cheang opts for a level beyond emotional, too smart to be conventional and even shock to be unpredictable. Not to spoil the ending, it is so well done that one can not find any flaws, but then again, maybe Neo overlooked them. What made the movie even better is the outstanding use of scenery and contrasting the rapid fire industry of Hong Kong with the poverty yet underlying romantically charged Cambodia.

I am still catching my breath at the moment and to be honest, this movie really made my night. Its been a while that after watching the movie, I watch straight to my lap top and started typing, but in all, I just wanted to share my feelings across, before I forget. It can simply be a movie about a dog, a mad dog finding love, but this isn't just another dog movie. It is a movie about life, the realities that exist in a place not too far away. It is the realism and the brutality that shock us, but ultimately it is the movie as a whole that truly delivers. Dog Bite Dog is the best movie since 2004 and before I end this review, I will repeat myself one more time – Neo just simply love it! (Neo 2006)

Neo rates it 10/10

• www.thehkneo.com

A Fierce Bite from a Slow Moving Dog

[eidolonse · 4/10 · 4 March 2008]

As it is often the case, the impressive and explosive trailers of Asian films add up to nothing more than lackluster stories. Similar to Unleashed (which was great,) Dog Bite Dog tells a story where men are raised as ferocious savage dogs that carry out their master's bidding. The main characters, an emotionally undeveloped, amoral killer who is matched against an equally unstable police officer, are far from the common heroes and villains we often see. In fact, by the end, you lose track of who you're supposed to empathize with, failing to feel even the slightest emotion for either of the men – whether that was the failure of the director or perhaps the underlining message he was trying to tell is up to you to decide.

Although the beginning of the film was filled with intrigue and unpredictability, by the half-way point it slopped down to a humdrum story of survival and revenge. The suspense which was evident at first soon disappeared because of a grossly mismatched music score which brought down the potentially effective story telling. And in the end, you were left feeling that all that detailed background information and introspection of the main characters was somehow very unnecessary.

On the plus side, the transition in story from point a to point b was quite atypical compared to US movies – so those who aren't familiar with Asian films and are tired of Hollywood's predictability should check it out.

The white balance seemed off throughout most of the film. It was like looking into a picture shot on fluorescent when it was supposed to be set on tungsten. Maybe I'm the only one, but it strained my eyes.

The movie also enjoyed playing tricks on you – an interesting build-up gave me hope for the slow moving story until it was diverted to a low budget, low speed chase scene. And just when you think you were going to get an unanswered indie ending with a mix of Shakespearean tragedy, you realize that it's not an ending at all, but rather a transition into a wacky country-music montage about peace and serenity.

Throw in some grisly from-behind choke scenes, a moment of redemption unexpectedly brought back into savagery and back again the other way, Asians' fascination with bodily fluids and a horrible music score that didn't match the film, and you get the average bland Asian thriller.

I just don't get why every fight scene was overlaid with clips of roaring lions …I thought they were supposed to symbolize dogs? Ultimately, in the end, we are reminded about a true killer that still lurks amongst us – tetanus.

4/10

One Of The Most Brutal and Nihilistic Movies I've Seen In A Long Time

[Humdinger69 · 9/10 · 4 October 2018]

Plenty of other users have gone in-depth about this movie already so I'll keep it short. Suffice to say this is an extremely gripping film. The entire movie is a pulse-pounding game of cat-and-mouse between two equally reprehensible people. Somewhere along the way a mentally-challenged girl gets involved. and some dramatic details are revealed about the protagonists, leading to some heartbreaking moments.

Featuring riveting performances, an unpredictable plot development, and, of coarse, a heaping helping of raw, nihilistic brutality. This is a world where police officers will take an innocent girl hostage (or worse) to get a killer to surrender.

Some suspension of disbelief is required and some questions are left unanswered in the end. But make no mistake, this is a riveting, if extremely over-the-top, piece of cinema.

Deeply effecting and moving film that defied my expectations

[BinaryStar909 · 8/10 · 1 November 2007]

Despite being quite far removed from my expectations, I was thoroughly impressed by Dog Bite Dog. I rented it not knowing much about it, but I essentially expected it to be a martial arts/action film in the standard Hong Kong action tradition, of which I am a devoted fan. I ended up getting something entirely different, which is not at all a bad thing. While the film could be classified as such, and there is definitely some good action and hand to hand combat scenes in the film, it is definitely not the primary focus. Its characters are infinitely more important to the film than its fights, a rather uncommon thing in many Hong Kong action movies.

I was really quite surprised by the intricacy of the characters and character relationships in the film. The lead character, played by Edison Chen (who is really very good), becomes infinitely more complex by the end of the film than I ever thought he would be after watching the first thirty minutes. The police characters also defied my expectations thoroughly. In fact, the stark and honest portrayal of the seldom seen dark side of the police force was quite possible my favorite aspect of the film. I don't know that I would say Dog Bite Dog entirely subverts typical notions of bad criminal, good cop, but it certainly distorts them in ways not often seen in film (unfortunately). So many films, especially Hong Kong action films I find, portray police in what is frankly a VERY ignorantly idealized light. This is one of my least favorite things about the genre. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Dog Bite Dog actually had some very unique, and really quite courageous, ideas to present about the police force. There are negotiation scenes in this film that I have never seen the likes of before, and doubt I will ever see again, and am sure I will remember for quite a while. Also, the criminal characters are shown from an interesting perspective as well, there is some documentary footage in the film of Cambodian boys no older than ten being made to fight each other to the death with their bare hands, which I thought was one of the film's most powerful and moving moments. It says a lot about the reason these guys are the way they are, rather than simply condemning them. Also, the relationship between Chen's character and the girl he meets in the junk yard reveals a lot about his character. It wasn't until this element entered the film that I really started to see the film as an emotional experience rather than only a visceral one. There is something about most on screen relationships that doesn't quite get through to me, but for some reason this one really did. The actress does an incredible job with this role which I imagine was not easy to play.

Dog Bite Dog also features some really breathtaking cinematography, all though it is unfortunately rather uneven. There were some moments that I found really striking, particularly in the last segment of the film, but there was also a good deal of camera work that was just OK. Another slight problem I had was with the pacing, which I also felt was uneven. I found a lot of the "looking for a boat" scenes to be a little alienating, all though it quickly picks up after that. The action scenes are short and not too plentiful, but are truly powerful and effecting, particularly towards the end. The fight choreography is honestly not all that impressive for the most part, all though to its credit it is solid and fairly realistic, but the true strength is the emotional content behind the fights. The final scene, while not a marvel of martial artistry or fight choreography, is one of the most powerful final fights I have ever seen, and I've seen quite a few martial arts films.

I suppose the biggest determining factor of whether or not one will get much out of Dog Bite Dog is whether or not you can connect with the characters. All of them are certainly some of the more flawed characters one is likely to see in a film of any kind, but there was something very human about all of them that I couldn't help but be drawn to and really feel for them, particularly Chen's girlfriend. I should say that I doubt most people will like the film as much as I did simply because I imagine that most people will not like or care about the characters in the same way, but I still recommend it highly all the same. It is truly a deeply moving and effecting film if you give it a chance.

No police in HK

[s_bvc · 1/10 · 20 October 2006]

It's a bad movie, it seems like there is only 5 police in HK, they were not using there gun and this makes me feel like a Jacky Chan's movie. All the time they were using their gun to point at the suspect only. When they finally use their gun is when they kill each other, what a funny movie. In The movie, it's like all the good guys died without a reason.

They story line of the movie also sucks, the story jump here and there and bored people. But if you wanted to see a bloody movie, I think this is only a OK type of movie, I think U.S. made zombie movie is more bloodier than this one

One of the most recommended movies!

[mz_chelz · 9/10 · 9 November 2006]

First of all that I would like to say is that Edison Chen is extremely hot and that Sam Lee is looking much better than before XD! This is probably one of the most original movies I have seen so far; shows a poverty lifestyle background of a Cambodian. The Cambodian(Edison aka Pang) goes around killing people to survive himself; has done it throughout his entire life. Sam Lee's(Wai) duty is to capture the Cambodian for good. There are tons of violent actions but has a good story to it. The movie shows the struggles between those two characters; they both beat each other like angry dogs. GO AND WATCH PPL...STRONGLY SUGGESSTED!!! (GO HK FILMS)

Refreshing, but frustrating

[angelsfang · 14 September 2007]

Note: This is more of a semi-review, so if you're still looking forward to seeing the movie, you might not want to read this. However if you wish to avoid a frustrating experience, then read on.

Dog Bite Dog is a refreshing change in Hong Kong cinema. As the starting credits came on, I noticed that the movie was produced by a Japanese producer, and directed by Soi Cheaung whom I'm not familiar with. This was enough foreshadowing for me to be prepared for something different from your regular mainstream Hong Kong flick. But I was not prepared for over an hour and a half of disbelief.

The movie starts out quite well, with maturing star Edison Chen playing the role of an assassin with the instincts of a killer canine. Gone are the days of the street kid rapper-wannabe, Edison has really come a long way and he plays a role similar to that of Jet Li in Danny the Dog (aka Unleashed). I like Edison, but personal preference could not save the unrealistic scenes in Dog Bite Dog. The storyline is decent, Sam Lee's character has a complex background that I won't spoil, and he's a "bad cop" which most of us would probably enjoy. But for some reason, Edison's character Pang is some kind of super human, he is just invincible to the point where you start to laugh in amusement. In the first encounter with the cops, Pang kills at least two innocent citizens before taking another hostage, while the cops panic and put down their guns. Obviously, Pang manages to escape, but not without killing a cop in the process, and the hostage as well. At this point you'd want to prepare yourself because this is going to happen very often. I think perhaps the director is trying to show the compassionate side of man, as the cops are constantly trying to stop Sam from being too brutal and sympathize for the hostages. This kind of attitude always gets themselves killed however.

I didn't take a body count, but Pang must have killed over 50 people in the end. Basically when he needs a car, he goes in, kills the driver and takes the car. In one scene, he enters a fishing boat at night and kills an elderly couple just for fun, and leaves. Yes, director, I understand that he has no feelings. But what I don't understand is why the need to make a complete MOCKERY of the Hong Kong Police Force? In one shootout scene near the end, one of the cops finally snap and take the girl as hostage (Pang's girlfriend apparently) in order to get Pang to release his hostage, a cop. The superior officer tells the snapped cop to release the girl, but then suddenly Pang shoots the cop holding the girl right on the head. He then obviously kills his own hostage, and runs, while the cops stand in disbelief, and me staring in disbelief. Sorry guys, but if this was in America, Pang would probably have like 20 bullets in his body, hostage or not, and I refuse to believe Hong Kong police are stupid enough to stand and watch. When one citizen is killed, it gets blown to ridiculous proportions by the media, one death is a serious thing in HK. There is NO WAY they would deal with a mass murderer like this. There were so many times I was just laughing and shaking my head in sadness, and I found myself fast forwarding the "compassionate" moments of Pang because, I just could not relate with a mass killer no matter what excuse he has, or how he was brought up to be the way he is. In our society, killing people at will is simply unacceptable, no matter if it's your fault or not. Another strange concept was that all the cops, who are supposed to be I'm assuming either Homicide cops or CID, why are they all armed with six shooters? Even regular street uniformed cops are now switching to Glocks, I have no idea why the director and/or producer needed to "dumb down" the cops in order to make their point. The final half hour of the movie was so laughably pathetic, that I found myself telling the story ahead of the movie itself. The girl, whom I never got to know her name because she seems to have a kind of speech impediment, is newcomer Weiying Pei, 18 years of age from Mainland China and she gives a fantastic performance, as well as being naturally beautiful. But what I can't stand about her is the way her presence dumbs down the cops. I can understand them not paying too much attention to a weak and injured girl, but this girl has bashed Sam on the head before, it's obvious she's "with" the criminal. How she is so constantly ignored and underestimated is simply pathetic, predictable, and an insult to the viewers' intelligence.

This movie would probably appeal to those who are a bored closet psycho who has dreamed of murdering people for fun after playing too many video games, or if you're simply too tired of the clichéd Hollywood movies. Or if you have a beef with the HKPF and would enjoy watching cops getting owned. It was refreshing, but I can't say I enjoyed it.

Not the film its made out to be.

[jhpstrydom · 3/10 · 25 May 2010]

Judging by the reviews of DOG BITE DOG you'd think that you're going to see something that grabs hold and doesn't let go, but the fact of the matter is its not really the case.

The brutal violence depicted in the film isn't really more violent than anything you're not use to already and it isn't as action packed as the positive reviews say, the fact is its not really so good that it has to come out in a 2 disc collectors edition, which it does by the way, also for a film with so many positive reviews behind it, it probably has one of the worst endings I've seen in a long time.

I do agree with a few things the reviews commented on, the direction is very flexible, the cinematography is top quality, the acting is great and has an interesting character story but overall its not that great of a film and the ending is seriously stupid, this is the first film I've seen with rave reviews with such a terrible ending.

It would've gotten a 5 but instead it gets a 3 because of the ending.

A must- watch; the best film I've ever seen.

[evilflic · 10/10 · 19 November 2006]

This has got to be the best movie I've ever seen.

Combine breathtaking cinematography with stunning acting and a gripping plot, and you have a masterpiece.

Dog Bite Dog had me gripping the edge of my seat during some scenes, recoiling in horror during others, and left me drowning in my own tears after the tragic ending.

The film left a deep impression on me. It's shockingly violent scenes contrasted sharply with the poignant and tender 'love' scenes. The film is undeserving of it's Cat III (nudity) rating; there are no nude scenes whatsoever, and the 'love' scenes do not even involve kissing or 'making out'.

The message which this film presented to me? All human beings, no matter how violent or cruel they may seem, have a tender side. Edison Chen does a superb job playing the part of the murderous Pang.

I rate this film 10/10. It's a must-watch.