On the Run (1988)

When his wife, also working for the the police, but in a different department, is being brutally murdered, a police officer begins to investigate the case on his own. Soon he has the hitwoman, who did it arrested, but must find out that things are not as easy as he thought. He has knocked at the wrong door and it turns out that the woman he has hold of may be his only ally.

'On The Run' is one of those great movies you see, never forget, and probably spend years of your life trying to convince your friends to watch. A tight and unpredictable thriller (don't worry, no spoilers here), it is one of the great unsung Hong Kong movies of the late 80's, boasting great performances from its leads (Yuen Biao and Pat Ha) and superbly restrained direction from Alfred Cheung. Yuen, fresh from excellent roles in Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan movies, shines bright as the put-upon hero, wearied by his life and ready to run. Guess what? He can't. There's none of Yuens trademark acrobatic fighting here, just harsh, bloody brawling, and the great stunts within are wonderfully under-shot. Director Cheung was better known for his comedies, and perhaps this gave him space to bring out the characters. Regardless, this is triumphant cinema on every level.