Overview: One of the most infamous movies branded with Hong Kong’s adults only Category III rating, Taxi Hunter bravely tackles the under-explored scourge of - er - unprofessional taxi drivers.

After his pregnant wife is perishes through the actions of a careless (and callous) cabby, mild-mannered Ah Kin (Anthony King of the Cat III’s Wong) declares war on the entire profession - and you don’t need The Knowledge to know he won’t be leaving a tip!

Blu-ray Verdict: In truth, and as I am sure most all of you have figured out by now, TAXI HUNTER is the Hong Kong version of Joel Schumacher’s Michael Douglas-led FALLING DOWN, with Herman Yau favorite Antony Wong adopting the titular role of a mild-mannered insurance broker whose life goes off the rails when his pregnant wife is involved an accident.

Directed by Herman Yau, this version of Taxi Hunter still wasn’t what I was expecting for it is an exploitative vigilante thriller with plenty of violence, sure, but it is nowhere near as mean-spirited or as graphic as the duo’s more infamous Cat IIIs, The Untold Story and Ebola Syndrome. Those checking the film out hoping for extreme content will no doubt be disappointed somewhat by the lack of intense gore and nihilism, but that all said, it still pushes the US original up a notch.

The film kicks off with a scene that is more akin to a heroic bloodshed movie or a Jackie Chan action flick, as gung ho cop Yu Kai-Chung and his partner tackle a gang of armed criminals. There’s a shoot out and a car chase, with some crazy vehicular stunt work and plenty of squibs.

Chung is best friends with Kin, and their relationship forms the crux of the movie, as the cop goes undercover to try and catch the taxi driver killer, unaware that it is his pal who has been committing the crimes.

Kin’s vigilante activities are definitely the film’s most satisfying moments, his victims being despicable lowlifes fully deserving of some payback, especially the driver who attempts to rape his pretty passenger. One cannot completely condone Kin’s actions, but it’s easy to sympathize with him - albeit just a bit - when his targets are such scumbags.

The inevitable ending sees Chung discovering Kin’s secret and trying to catch him before he can commit any more murders. Which then leads us nicely into the final action scene - which is unto itself, a LOT of fun - with a high-speed car chase thought the streets of HK.

In short, Taxi Hunter has a low key and gritty approach that nonetheless shoehorns some vehicular mayhem into the plot template. It’s a passionate and psychological look at a specific problem in society ie: road rage, and how it is handled within the confines of a typically Chinese styling.

Special Features:
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray™ presentation in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
Lossless 2.0 Cantonese Mono
Newly Translated English Subtitles
Audio Commentary by Hong Kong Film Expert Frank Djeng
Hunting For Words - An Interview with Scriptwriter and Producer Tony Leung Hung-Wah
How to Murder Your Taxi Driver? - An Interview with Action Director James Ha
Falling Down in Hong Kong - An Interview with star Anthony Wong
Theatrical Trailer
Stills Gallery
Reversible cover with new artwork by Sean Longmore and original HK Poster Art

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