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Murderer

Original title: Sha ren fan
  • 20092009
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
651
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Sha ren fan (2009)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
A Hong Kong-set mystery centered on a detective who has been framed for a series of gruesome murders.A Hong Kong-set mystery centered on a detective who has been framed for a series of gruesome murders.A Hong Kong-set mystery centered on a detective who has been framed for a series of gruesome murders.
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
651
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Roy Hin Yeung Chow
  • Writers
    • Roy Hin Yeung Chow(screenplay)
    • Chi-long To(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Josie Ho
    • Aaron Kwok
    • Janine Chun-Ning Chang
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roy Hin Yeung Chow
  • Writers
    • Roy Hin Yeung Chow(screenplay)
    • Chi-long To(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Josie Ho
    • Aaron Kwok
    • Janine Chun-Ning Chang
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Photos

    Sha ren fan (2009)
    Sha ren fan (2009)
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    Top cast

    Edit
    Josie Ho
    Josie Ho
    • Minnieas Minnie
    Aaron Kwok
    Aaron Kwok
    • Lingas Ling
    Janine Chun-Ning Chang
    Janine Chun-Ning Chang
    • Hazelas Hazel
    Kuan Tai Chen
    Kuan Tai Chen
    • Taias Tai
    Kar Lok Chin
    Kar Lok Chin
    • Andyas Andy
    Michelle Ye
    Michelle Ye
    • Sonny's motheras Sonny's mother
    Eddie Cheung
    Eddie Cheung
    • Ghostas Ghost
    • (as Siu-Fai Cheung)
    You-Nam Wong
    • Leoas Leo
    Yong Dong
    • Chief Superintendent Yuas Chief Superintendent Yu
    Courtney Wu
    Courtney Wu
    • Juno Maas Juno Ma
    Ava Liu
    • Team B Memberas Team B Member
    • (as Ava Yu)
    Teddy Lin
    Teddy Lin
    • Ling's fatheras Ling's father
    Alan Ka-Lun Yu
    Alan Ka-Lun Yu
      Hin-Wai Au
      • Team B Memberas Team B Member
      Buzz Chung
      • Young Ken Cheungas Young Ken Cheung
      Kwok-Wai Cheung
      • Identification Bureau Officeras Identification Bureau Officer
      Wai-Ming Pang
      • Team A Memberas Team A Member
      Kim Wah Lou
      • Director
        • Roy Hin Yeung Chow
      • Writers
        • Roy Hin Yeung Chow(screenplay)
        • Chi-long To(screenplay)
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
      • All cast & crew

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      Storyline

      Edit

      User reviews7

      Review
      Top review
      Silly to the point of hilarity
      It is not that rare to find a film in which almost all of the IMDb reviews are negative. However, it -is- rare to find a film in which all (or almost all) of the reviewers gave the film negative reviews for virtually the exact reasons.

      Aaron Kwok plays a police detective in charge of an investigation into a string of serial murders, who suffers amnesia apparently as a result of an incident shown in the opening sequence of the film (and in which another police detective was seriously injured). The first half of the film shows his state of mental decline as he gradually succumbs to paranoia when he (re)discovers clues and evidence that seems to finger him as the murderer. This part of the film is very well done, minus the grizzly murder scenes and the opening sequence, which are clearly gratuitous. Kwok makes a convincing performance as a detective who is simultaneously convinced that he is being framed but unable to deny the trail of evidence that confronts him. The uncertainty over his role in the murders is compounded by his amnesia and his personal conviction regarding his innocence, which compels him to conceal damning evidence from his colleagues while trying desperately to hunt down a killer that he believe is still "out there." "Western" audiences are most likely to compare this segment of the film to Memento given the amnesia component and the gradually unfolding clues that lead the main character to question his starting assumptions.

      Half way through the film, things take a horrendous turn. A rather ridiculous "twist" is inserted into the plot that begins to unravel the film, rendering it "silly" to the point of laugh out loud hilarity. I won't spoil the "twist" here, but there are a number of reviews with spoiler warnings that will save you the 2 hours or so that you might otherwise waste watching this film. It's too bad, really, since this film could have been so much better.
      helpful•3
      3
      • dontspamme-11
      • Dec 6, 2009

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • July 9, 2009 (Hong Kong)
      • Country of origin
        • Hong Kong
      • Official site
        • Official site (Japan)
      • Languages
        • Cantonese
        • English
      • Also known as
        • 殺人犯
      • Filming locations
        • Hong Kong, China
      • Production companies
        • Eastern Productions
        • Edko Films
        • Focus Features
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

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      • Gross worldwide
        • $1,666,655
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • Runtime
        2 hours
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Dolby Digital
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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