Story wise Limbo plays within a familiar territory when it comes to police investigation films about the hunt for a serial killer on the loose therefore the execution makes all the difference here and it ends up being a prime example of how a movie's visual aspect elevating it above its written material. After All Limbo shares a lot of similarities with Soi cheang's own Dog Eat Dog in terms of plot and in terms of how murky the morality of most of the characters at play is but as bleak and filthy as that film was it still has nothing on Limbo because as stated above the aesthetic that this film goes for is even grittier, grimier, nastier and bleaker yet still somehow mesmerising as it creates an atmosphere that is as creepy and ruthless as its subject matter.
Hong Kong is depicted in almost apocalyptic way, focusing mostly on the territory in which the killer operates, the rain soaked litter filled back alleys of the city, a wasteland that feeds on the outcasts of society, if you don't get chopped up by the killer the street will literally eat you alive. The city's mega structures are juxtaposed in the background in some scenes as a way to comment on how isolated the underworld feels it's almost as if the movie is saying you can scream all you want because nobody is coming there for help and nobody cares.
With a cast and crew consisting of a few Milky way image regulars (recurring story elements from previous works like the police detective losing his gun subplot are explored here again with a different approach), Limbo tells the story of a relentless manhunt for a deranged serial killer terrorising the female outcasts of the underworld. With Gordon Lam, in one of his few leading roles, shining as the tormented veteran police detective. His looks kind of reflect the harshness of his environment, the guy isn't afraid of getting knee deep in a trunk full of junk if it means he gets one step closer to stopping the culprit. On the other hand we have Yase Liu giving a very solid performance as the lead female of the film, I've never seen her in anything before but her turn will surely make me watch out for anything she does in the future. Mason Lee who I just found out is Ang Lee's son also does a decent job as the newly assigned and relatively naive detective, he might not be as good at his job as Gordon Lam's character but he definetly has the same resolve to fulfill his duty.
This is a step in the right direction for Soi Cheang a director who is clearly better than being a for hire in mainland chinese CGI crap fests, definetly the best film I've seen from him as of yet. If you liked his Dog Bite Dog you should find this right up your alley because I personally think it's a way better film that shows how much he grew as a filmmaker. Please for the love of god keep doing stuff like this. Also somebody please wake Johnnie To up from his sleep, we need more films like this! Keep Hong Kong cinema alive.
