88 Films UK Blu-ray Synopsis: One of the first – and most notorious – of Hong Kong's famously Adults Only Category III films, Her Vengeance stars Pauline Wong (The Blue Jean Monster) as a young woman hunting down the vermin who brutally assaulted her: ears will be sliced off, acid will be thrown and funeral directors will be kept very busy indeed... With essential support from the legendary Lam Ching-ying (Magic Cop) as a warrior in a wheelchair and directed by Lam Nai Choi, master of Asian extremity (The Story of Ricky; Erotic Ghost Story), Her Vengeance is a tale of retribution that could only have been made in Hong Kong. 88 Films are proud to present a cult classic – completely uncut – on Blu-ray for the first time. (83/90 mins)

 

Views: When Ying, a nightclub employee in Macau, is attacked and raped by a gang of men from Hong Kong, her life takes an incredibly dramatic turn. Left with an STD and emotional broken, her blind sister encourages her to seek revenge. Ying heads to Hong Kong and soon finds help courtesy of nightclub boss Hung; a former triad who is now wheelchair bound. Hung gives Ying a job at his club, helping her to find the rapists and seek her revenge. Naturally, her actions do not come without their own repercussions that makes her question her own morals as she exacts vengeance on each of the men involved. Recently restored and released via a gorgeous Deluxe Edition Blu-ray edition courtesy of 88 Films, Her Vengeance is said to be one of the first true Category 3 films of Hong Kong cinema, playing like a remake of the 1973 Shaw Brothers 'rape and revenge' film Kiss of Death, from director Ho Meng Hua – with a dash of the 1978 American cult-classic, I Spit On Your Grave. It's worth noting that the uncut version of this brutal thriller is not for those with a weak stomach!

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Directed by the underrated Lam Nai Choi – the same man behind classics such as Men from the Gutter (1983), The Seventh Curse (1986), The Peacock King (1989) and it's sequel, Erotic Ghost Story (1990) and the outrageous Story of Ricky (1992) – Her Vengeance is probably one of his more mature offerings as a film-maker and definitely one of my favourite from his (very interesting) filmography. Although equally as talented as a cinematographer; having captured classics such as The Avenging Eagle (1978), The Kung-fu Instructor (1979), To Kill a Mastermind (1979), his Men from the Gutter (1983) and Erotic Ghost Story (1990) as well as many others, he stepped down from the job here – instead, taking on prolific DOP Daniel Kwan Chi Kan as the man behind the lens. In what was only his second film as cinematographer after Lam Nai Choi's The Ghost Snatchers in 1986, Kwan delivers a gorgeously shot film – highlighted even more so by this new 2K restoration from 88 Films – and would go onto capture both The Peacock King and Saga of the Phoenix for Lam in 1989. Throughout his career, Kwan would be behind the lens for many Hong Kong classics such as Magic Cop (1990), Thunderbolt (1995), Ballistic Kiss (1998), Dr. Lamb (1992), and Sammo Hung's Kung Fu Chefs (2009).

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Of course, aside from the tight direction and cinematography, one of the best things in Her Vengeance is the fantastic Pauline Wong; an award winning Hong Kong actress who had her own fair share of problems yet never failed to impress. Prior to this, Wong won fans over with her roles in Night Caller (1985), Love with the Perfect Stranger (1985), Rich & Famous and it's sequel Tragic Hero in 1987, Spiritual Love (1987), Long Arm of the Law 2 (1987) and the awesome Mr. Vampire (1985) where she first worked with the late, great Lam Chin Ying – one of her co-stars here in Her Vengeance. Clearly given one of her biggest challenges to date, Pauline proves her worth as assaulted and vengeful Ying and deserves to be more recognised for the work she delivers. Following this, Lam Nai Choi would have her return for a less abusive role in the fun SFX adventure, The Peacock King (1989) alongside Yuen Biao, with Wong going on to star in films such as Web of Deception (1989), The Spooky Family (1990), The Blue Jean Monster (1991), Spiritual Trinity (1991) and The Beheaded 1000 (1993) among many more...

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Playing the five rapists and villains of the piece are the fantastic Billy Chow, Hon Yee Sang, Chan Ging, Tse Fook Yiu, and the prolific Shing Fui On who had already starred alongside Pauline in Taylor Wong's Rich & Famous (1987) and would star with her again in the brilliant Blue Jean Monster (1991) a few years later. Each of them bring their own level of evil and nastiness to the film, hardly holding back on both Pauline and other victims as if they are above the law and unhinged in their actions. Of course, they all get what they deserve by the end of the film – and in the most brutal way poor Ying can afford herself to do. As mentioned, Hong Kong legend Lam Ching Ying joins her – this time, as the wheelchair bound former triad and nightclub owner, Hung. While often cast as a Taoist priest since his groundbreaking role in Mr. Vampire (1985), it's always great to see Lam in something different and in Her Vengeance, it's most certainly that! Confined to a wheelchair with two prosthetic legs, Lam has trained in himself in the art of freestyle wheelchair fighting – zipping around the edge of buildings, flying off ramps, and revealing hidden weapons contained all over it. He takes no shit, and while it may seem like a ridiculous plot-point giving the sincerity of the whole thing, it does make for a lot of fun and some WTF moments. And finally, a young (and quite handsome) Kelvin Wong makes an appearance as a reporter who takes a liking to Ying after crossing paths with her a number of times on her journey of vengeance. Another actor of Her Vengeance that has since passed, this was only Kelvin's second role, but it was nice to him on the side of good before going onto be known as the villain of Hong Kong hits such as Police Story 3: Super Cop (1992), Moon Warriors (1992), and High Risk (1995) among others.

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While strictly a 'rape and revenge' thriller, Her Vengeance does offer up some exciting moments of action courtesy of Lam Ching Ying who doubles-up as the action-choreographer alongside actor and choreographer, King Lee – director of films such as Andy Lau's Proud & Confident (1989), No Way Back (1990), Lam Ching Ying's Mad Mad Ghost (1992) and S.D.U. Mission in Mission (1994). Over the years, the pair have worked together numerously and here, deliver some brutally realistic action that often makes the eyes pop and definitely makes for one hell of an exciting finale. Of course, that really differs on which version you are watching! Legend has it that there are about four different versions of the movie out there, although this particular 88 Films release gives us two – the 'uncut' extreme Cat.3 version and the longer running (cut) Cat.2B theatrical version, oddly. I do, however, recommend watching both as each cut gives a totally different experience – although I can't decide which one I preferred. While the Cat.3 version is indeed shorter by almost 7 minutes, it does offer a more intense and violent watch. But the longer Cat.2B version gives us additional scenes that make for a stronger story, albeit with trimmed rape scenes and moments of brutality. Presented by Golden Harvest, who delivered a number of Lam Nai Choi's more eye-popping titles, it's also worth noting that Her Vengeance was written by Shirley Woo who went onto write Lam's Peacock King (1989) and which she doubled-up on as the assistant director. Here, script supervisor Simon Leung and Kenny Ha Sau Hin serve as the assistant directors with the latter having delivered many of his own efforts such as Devil Cat (1985), Jail House Eros (1989), Vampire Kids (1990), Yuen Biao's Dragon from Shaolin (1996) and more...

 

I was pretty damn impressed after watching Her Vengeance for the first time, but after a second with the alternate version and third listening to Frank Djeng's audio commentary, I genuinely think this could possibly be one of Lam Nai Choi's best works. It's visuals, acting and intensity are as great as (if not more so) Cat.3 classics such as Red To Kill (1994), Women on the Run (1993), and Dr. Lamb (1992) for example. I only hope that this gorgeously packaged new Blu-ray release from 88 Films affords it a bigger audience; accompanied by a well-written 40 page book and more. The film definitely deserves it. I only wish Lam Nai Choi had given us more like this before delving into the FX filled world of fantasy and mayhem – eventually retiring in the early 90s with only 13 directional efforts over his decade long career. As it stands, Her Vengeance is absolutely one of my new favourite Lam Nai Choi titles and a movie that deserves to be in your collection!

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Overall: Often brutal but wonderfully made, Her Vengeance is a beautiful nightmare that shows Pauline Wong at the top of her game!

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88 Films Blu-ray Extras: 2K Restoration, Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng, Trailer, Stills Gallery

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