Hei mao (1991)

Catherine is a violent and disturbed young lady who is shot down by the government in one of her escapades. She wakes up in a training facility and is taught to use weapons, combat, and is ... See full summary »

Director:

Stephen Shin

Writers:

Bo Shun Chan, Tan-Ping Lam

Stars:

Jade Leung, Simon Yam, Thomas Lam

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jade Leung	...	Erica Leung / Catherine
Simon Yam	...	Brian
Thomas Lam	...	Thomas
Curtis Fraser	...	Prison Guard
Denise Stauffer	...	Prison Guard
Jordy Shane	...	Disguised old woman
Audrey Rene	...	Bride
Mary Rawbins	...	Hostess
Randi Lynne	...	Prison Guard
Glen Morrison	...	Gun Instructor
Kiara Hunter	...	CIA Agent (as Cara Leigh Hunter)
Jamie Estio	...	Groom
Yvonne Drinovz	...	Prison Guard
Dickie Motherwell	...	Language Instructor
Chan Korlikian	...	Mysterious Killer

Storyline

Catherine is a violent and disturbed young lady who is shot down by the government in one of her escapades. She wakes up in a training facility and is taught to use weapons, combat, and is put through heavy endurance training. When she is done, she is given the code name "Black Cat". Catherine is now an assassin for the government and is very good at it but she soon finds a boyfriend and is caught between her love for him and her deal with the government.

---

Plot Keywords:

black cat | assassin | female protagonist | cult film | running | 

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese English Japanese

Release Date:

17 August 1991 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Black Cat

Filming Locations:

Panorama Ridge, South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

D & B Films Co. Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Catherine is let out of the car at the wedding hit, there is some kind of large farm equipment on the road in the distance. The car starts to drive away, the shot cuts to her face, then back to the car leaving. Despite the fact that the car has only traveled a few feet, the combine in the distance has disappeared.

---

Connections

Remake of La Femme Nikita (1990)

User Reviews

Not a great film

Black Cat is directed by Stephen Shin and it stars Jade Leung, in her first feature role. This is the Hong Kong "remake" of Luc Besson's classic La Femme Nikita, which is one of the greatest action pieces in the world of cinema. Black Cat fails to be great even though it is made in Hong Kong, where action films are usually unmatchable. Erika/Catherine/Black Cat is a violent young female who goes to jail and has the same offer as in Nikita: to become an assassin to the government. She starts the training and once she's ready and skilled enough, the killings may start. What follows is tired scenes and nothing special in the whole movie.

The action scenes are okay and stylish at times (especially during the credits) but they are so few and can't save the whole film. There is absolutely no depth in the characters (Leung, Simon Yam or others) and the film is pretty irritating to watch because it offers nothing more than just gun fires and action, which are nothing special considered this is made in the land of Woo, Lam, Mak and other great directors.

So I can't recommend this too much but Hong Kong fans will want to check it out and so did I. This could have been far far worse and due to the few stylish scenes and images in the film, it is not too impossible to sit through, and in fact, I've watched this two times now.

4/10