Synopsis: Close Escape centres on a dying man who turns to crime to secure his brother's future, inadvertently drawing them into a perilous clash with ruthless smugglers and the police. The film is notable for an energetic mix of action, crime, and drama, highlighted by standout martial arts performances from Dick Wei and Yukari Oshima, whose fight scenes are often praised as the film's main draw. While made on a low budget, it offers engaging action sequences and is recommended for fans of 1980s Hong Kong fight choreography. (92 Mins)

 

Views: Gangsters, gun-fu, femme fatales and fight action sum up this unsung classic of Hong Kong cinema, made in 1989 when film fans where getting hit from all directions with titles such as Aces Go Places 5, Angel Enforcers, A Better Tomorrow 3, The Blonde Fury, Casino Raiders, China White, Crocodile Hunter, Dragon Fight, The First Time is the Last Time, God of Gamblers, The Iceman Cometh, In the Line of Duty 4, Just Heroes, Iron Angels 3, The Killer, Miracles, My Heart is that Eternal Rose, Peacock King, Pedicab Driver, Runaway Blues, Seven Warriors, Vampire Buster, Vampire vs Vampire, and Wild Search among many others...

 

The only film made under the Y. C. Lai Films Production banner, Close Escape is a tale of double-crossers, murder, revenge, and crime – the kind of plot devices that were typical to many B-action flicks of Hong Kong cinema around this time. But that's not to say this was a bad thing! While many films ran similar storylines and used many of the same plot cliches, some did it better than others. I guess, in hindsight, it was all down to the team involved and it's probably only fair to say that Close Escape offers a mixed bag – but in a positive way. The directorial debut of film journey-man Chow Jan Wing, a small-time bit-player who also wrote films such as Fast Fingers (1983), Point of No Return (1990), and A Warrior's Tragedy (1993) among others, but also worked as the assistant director on classics such as Kid from Kwangtung (1982), This Man is Dangerous (1985), Hong Kong Godfather (1985), Prison on Fire (1987), The Big Heat (1988), Full Contact (1992), and Jackie Chan's Thunderbolt (1995). While he would go onto direct 16 of his own films through to 2010, where he finished with Jeet Kune Do co-starring the late Bruce Leung and Wu Ma, nothing has ever been talked about as much as Close Escape. It's probably worth noting that Chow also co-wrote the film alongside Bryan Chang Wai Hung, the same guy behind the scripts for A Fiery Family (1989) starring Gordon Liu and Norman Tsui, Danny Lee and Tony Leung's Blue Lightning (1991), and the infamous Run & Kill (1993) starring Simon Yam and Kent Cheng!

 

Of course, the company of Y. C. Lai Films was named after it's producer Guy Lai Ying Chau – a regular bit player seen in films such as Twin Dragons (1992), Pom Pom & Hot Hot (1992), Sixty Million Dollar Man (1995), and Bio Zombie (1998) among others, and director of six of his own features including Leslie Cheung's 1985 comedy The Intellectual Trio, Jacky Cheung's underrated Point of No Return (1990) and Ricky Hui's Ghost for Sale (1991). While he may have only created a production company in his name for the sake of Close Escape, Lai had already produced a number of classics from the late 1970s including His Name is Nobody (1979), The Legend of the Owl (1981), Oh My Cops! (1983), Law with Two Phases (1984) and The Innocent Interloper (1986) to name but a few. For Close Escape, Lai secured the services of Shaw Brothers legend and Hong Kong movie hard-man Philip Kwok Choi to serve as the film's fight and action director. Joining the film industry in the mid-70s, Kwok appeared in many Shaw Brothers classics as a bit player until Chang Cheh spotted the potential of the Taiwanese martial artist and, along with a number of other new players, created the Venom Mob – a gang of burly, highly skilled martial arts-actors that fast became box-office gold thanks to films like The Five Venoms (1978), Crippled Avengers (1978), The Daredevils (1979), Kid with the Golden Arm (1979), Masked Avengers (1981) and so much more – with Kwok and others usually handling the fight choreography at the same time. But as the traditional kung fu flick faded away, Kwok Choi made sure that he wouldn't be out of a job, quickly adapting to star in and choreograph the action for many modern day Hong Kong films such as The Big Heat (1988), The Peacock King (1989), Forbidden Arsenal (1991), Once a Thief (1991), Hard Boiled (1992) and many of Michelle Yeoh's later efforts – including her debut Hollywood outing with Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and then some.

 

Without a doubt, one of the major highlights for me with Close Escape is the fantastic cast of offer. This starts with the lady of hour – the wonderful Yukari Oshima – of who the film is most associated with. But, in fact, her character of Miko is only secondary to many of the others that she shares the screen with. That said, this was still pretty early on in her Hong Kong film career having first impressed audiences only 3 years earlier in films such as A Book of Heroes, Kung Fu Wonder Child, Funny Family, and Millionaires Express. Of course, her most impressive role would follow in 1987 when she starred as the wicked Madame Yeung in the awesome Iron Angels. Then, in 1989, the Osh would star in no less than 8 films, with Close Escape being one of many that saw her in a supporting role. Of course, she impresses as always – first introduced when she knocks over one of our heroes while driving down Victoria Peak. Posing as a Japanese reporter based in Hong Kong, her real motives are later revealed when she becomes heavily involved and the action begins. That said, it's the one hour mark before we see her deliver her first blow in a nice trade of moves by the waterfront with the two big baddies. The handsome Max Mok stars as one of the main leads, Leung, introduced as a champion fencer who gets messed about by his best friend Ben, which kicks-off with them wrestling in a shower of purple dye – as all best friends usually do! Prior to this, Max had already starred in almost 20 productions including hits like The Lady Assassin (1983), Holy Flame of the Martial World (1983), Magic Crystal (1986), Last Eunuch in China (1987), The Dragon Family (1988), and Sammo Hung's incredible Pedicab Driver (1989). Close Escape was only one of ten he would star in in 1989. Ben is played by the equally handsome Aaron Kwok in what was, seemingly, his debut feature film performance. Here, the now popular singer/actor and much loved performer, stars as a police Sergeant Kwok who is given the orders of arresting his best friend after he is framed for murder. Naturally, he questions his actions while searching for him, and soon finds himself drawn into the violence and action while trying to hold on tight to his job and his friend. They are joined by the always enjoyable Michael Mui who co-stars as Mok's big brother and housemate – unfortunately dying from cancer, but is determined to support his brother anyway he can once he is gone. In doing so, he soon finds himself buried deep in dodgy deals when he steals a case-full of diamonds from a gangster businessman which, in turn, unravels a chain of events that affects everyone close to him and sees Mui himself taken out in a violent death before his sickness can consume him.

 

Of course, a band of heroes such as those mentioned need a worthy opponent to go up against in the bad corner. And who better to take the lead than one of Hong Kong's greatest villains and top fighters, than the formidable Dick Wei. Here, Wei stars as the gangster businessman known as Chiu Ying Kau – delivering his usual stoic, menacing performance as seen in many Hong Kong greats before and after this. Actually, 1989 would prove to be a crazy busy year for the Taiwanese born actor having appeared in no less than 10 features that year – joining fellow co-stars in films like Pedicab Driver, Proud & Confident, Final Run, and Angel's Mission, as well as films like Bloody Brotherhood, Angel Enforcers and Jet Li's Dragon Fight. In Close Escape, he is backed by the equally menacing Pomson Shi, a martial artist turned actor that has appeared in films such as Snake in the Monkey's Shadow (1979), Hong Kong Godfather (1985), I Love Maria (1988), Fatal Mission (1990), and That's Money (1990) with both Yukari Oshima and Max Mok once again. Starring as Dick Wei's right-hand man, Shi delivers a strong performance and and steals many of the scenes he's in. Along with their minions, that include Albert Cheung, Choi Chung Wing, Chang Seng Kwong, Yiu Man Kei and others, both prove their worth as strong bad guys and deliver some powerful hits when action kicks off. It's probably also worth noting that fan-fave Chiang Tao makes an appearance, although as more of a guest star than anything...

 

While it has often been discarded as a worthwhile film – shunned as just another late-80s Hong Kong action-thriller in the same category of titles like Burning Ambition (1989), City Warriors (1988), Mission Kill (1990), Family Honour (1990), The Dragon Family (1988), and Never Say Regret (1990) among others – Close Escape is actually a well made production and an impressive debut from Chow Jan Wing. Backed by Kwok Choi and a strong cast and supporting players, Chow's direction is solid and the action (although not constant) hits hard and violent for the most part – giving us the first real taste of what's to come just after the first 20 minutes that stays consistent through to the memorable finale, thanks to some great choreography and experienced stunt players, with Max Mok and Aaron Kwok holding their own against the more seasoned fighters. So while it's themes of cops and robbers, revenge and double-crossing, brotherhood and loyalty may come across like we've seen it all before, Close Escape scores massive points for it's dedicated cast, violent action and great production values – making it somewhat of a hidden gem from the glory days of Hong Kong cinema!

 

Overall: Neatly made, well acted and dripping with brutal action scenes, Close Escape is an underrated gem worth checking out!