This film is not really what I expected. Picking up the HK-made VCD from a rack of many HK films, one expected a cheap skinflick with a dash of drama. Instead, it is more an on-the-cheap-side drama with dashes of skin.
Of course the story is somewhat lacking in credibility. However, taking this into account, it is quite involving and watchable. At least for the first half, I was strongly reminded of the John Fowles novel THE COLLECTOR (also made into a film in the 1960s).
The film is mainly played as straight drama, which makes the funny bits even better. Most of the humour is provided by the bunch of oddballs who are the other tenants of the building where the kidnapper and his charge live, and their reactions to what each other does.
Much of the driving force of the story is the question of how long before the kidnapper is discovered and how long before the girl starts to go along with the plan (that she WILL go along with it is never in doubt, despite several weak red herrings which purport to show otherwise).
Given that this film had a Cat III rating in HK, and the subject matter, I was surprised how little nudity there was. The lead actress is of course showed sans clothing quite often, but never full frontal. Even in the shower and sex scenes, the most you see are occasional flashes of tit or bum.
For what appeared to be a fairly cheap production, the acting is very good, and the production boasts a few very well-known actors.
The ending is inconclusive and unsatisfying. Nevertheless, recommended.
Of course the story is somewhat lacking in credibility. However, taking this into account, it is quite involving and watchable. At least for the first half, I was strongly reminded of the John Fowles novel THE COLLECTOR (also made into a film in the 1960s).
The film is mainly played as straight drama, which makes the funny bits even better. Most of the humour is provided by the bunch of oddballs who are the other tenants of the building where the kidnapper and his charge live, and their reactions to what each other does.
Much of the driving force of the story is the question of how long before the kidnapper is discovered and how long before the girl starts to go along with the plan (that she WILL go along with it is never in doubt, despite several weak red herrings which purport to show otherwise).
Given that this film had a Cat III rating in HK, and the subject matter, I was surprised how little nudity there was. The lead actress is of course showed sans clothing quite often, but never full frontal. Even in the shower and sex scenes, the most you see are occasional flashes of tit or bum.
For what appeared to be a fairly cheap production, the acting is very good, and the production boasts a few very well-known actors.
The ending is inconclusive and unsatisfying. Nevertheless, recommended.
