Obsessive detective Tong (Tse) leads a team of fellow officers to stop the nefarious activities of a a gang of armed robbers lead by mastermind Cheung (Philip Keung), managing to alienate his colleagues in the process. In an ensuing car pile-up that leaves the detective, his assistant Sun (Liu Kai Chi) and their target seriously injured, chief prosecutor Ann's daughter is accidentally killed in the carnage. Tong recovers physically, but mentally can never come to terms with what his actions have lead to and removes himself from public life while Ann holds him personally responsible.

Cheung eventually recovers and a date for him to be prosecuted is set with Ann determined to take on the role herself. The accused is well aware of the evidence stacked against him and sends a message to his men to kidnap Ann's youngest daughter, Ling, and force her to fix the trial in his favour. Tong regularly visits Ling at her school in an attempt to come to terms with the past and is present when tortured foot soldier Hung (Cheung) is sent to take her away. Hung escapes and awaits the day of the trial to see if Ann makes the decision that will ensure the safe return of her daughter. Tong will not let this crime go, however, and calls on old friend Sun to help track down the victim while both sides of the law remain completely unaware. Yet it isn't too long before Ann realises Tong's intentions and, more worryingly, so does Cheung's gang.

'The Beast Stalker' opens with a strangely mellow soundtrack and innocuous shots of Hong Kong's concrete landscapes, a pleasant change from the usual audio assault that greets the beginning of many thrillers today. It also serves the purpose of allowing the story's inherent tension to simmer gently under the surface until, by the conclusion, it reaches an emphatic boiling point. Some indication of just what Dante Lam's intentions are is revealed in a tightly-wound opening fifteen minutes that probably rank as the most impressive period the director has ever constructed. Full of diegetic noise and shots of urban decay, this excellent beginning may have been the only thing of note if it were to have appeared in most of Dante Lam's recent work. Yet 'The Beast Stalker' does not relent, does not allow moments of exposition that follow to unduly dilute the atmosphere and does not let the viewer out of the cast-iron grip of the narrative.

Thrillers about personal redemption, botched kidnaps and flawed heroes are nothing revolutionary, but when they are executed with such aplomb they certainly stand out from the crowded field. Lam builds a particular Hong Kong world for the story, using Cheung Man Po and Tse Chung-To's exceptional cinematography to emphasis the grit, grime and constant industrialisation of the surroundings - a long way from the usual travelogue shots of The Peak glistening in the mid-morning sun. The environment of 'The Beast Stalker' is what gives its familiar elements new life and suddenly the cliches become important components in the production's power.

Much will be said of Nick Cheung's award-winning performance as stoic killer Hung whose inner-demons are ingeniously revealed as the story evolves. Rightfully so: after such a long time wallowing in the role of 'The Next Chow Sing-Chi' - something he patently never was despite many directors' intentions - he is building a canon of accomplished performances that have now reached their critical apex. Nicholas Tse, however, has been strangely absent from the commendation and as the equally troubled Tong this is probably one of the roles he'll be most encouraged to see in his portfolio. With the acclaim showered on 'The Beast Stalker' and its cast and crew, this must be a definitive turning point in the varied careers of Lam, Cheung and Tse - let us hope so anyway.

Not just one of the best thrillers to emerge from Hong Kong in a good few years, but also as good as many that have been released throughout Asia over the artistically-rich 21st century, 'The Beast Stalker' is flicker of hope in an industry that has slowly been invaded by its immitators. Though the film is slick, an opulent budget is not what makes it so involving - it is the intelligence behind the camera and the performances in front of it. These are the elements that should push Hong Kong cinema onwards through this difficult phase.

The robbers have their leader about to be sentenced in court and orders a kidnapping of Ling to be executed by Hung (Nick Cheung) in order to have a key piece of evidence destroyed. Being scarred himself to the point of blindness and colourblindess, he takes any job, no matter how low, dirty and violent matters will become. It's all to further the life of himself and invalid wife Li (Miao Pu). The kidnapping goes through as planned and under the radar of the police, Tong must enlist part of his old team and gain the trust of Ann...

Back in full effect since 2006's lambasted Undercover Hidden Dragon which he co-directed with long time working partner Gordon Chan, Dante Lam hits 2008 with one of his 3 productions. Them being the animated Storm Rider - Clash of Evils and The Sniper which should've come out by now had it not been for the Edison Chen photo scandal (among a few other things) so we'll endure the wait with Beast Stalker in the meantime . In fact, it very MUCH suffices as its mixture of kidnap-thriller and emotions coming out of a few life shattering and altering moments scores in a way we've wanted Dante Lam to for some time.

There's been Beast Cops and odd, quirky material such as Jiang Hu - The Triad Zone but no true merging of highly commercial, accessible sensibilities coupled with internal journeys from Lam. So Beast Stalker is totally welcome and even though it sways within its running time, it still delivers a punch it aims for. Sways seems to be a suitable word as stylization is something Lam rarely veers away from. So amidst the dirty, gritty Hong Kong streets (wonderful, automatic production design utilized very well), Lam opts his camera to be a documentary crew... looking in, over shoulders, never settling on being static and for some portions of the film, the effect lingers between pretentious, suitably part of the ride and you can easily feel seasick as well. But overall Lam argues well that we should side with his technical tools as he manages to inject tension, excitement and emotions via them. Especially in the way the city of Hong Kong is used. Streets, pavement, dark passages, alleyways... they ARE foreboding and no production designer and set dresser could fully manufacture something this immersing. It's merely added upon, built upon... something that goes in line with how Beast Stalker plays out.

And as the key car chase (which isn't about the chase but the impact literally) has revealed itself, so has overacting, reckless characters and self-indulgement and it wouldn't be wrong to state a case for no drama and just heart pumping ride. But as the obligatory "3 months later" card appear before us, Lam quiets down and has Nicholas Tse's character-journey take center stage. Watching the second child of the family that IS alive, Lam's intentions as a subtle director within this package has little effect in these situations but Beast Stalker should be judged based on the overall coherence of mentioned elements of tension, excitement and drama so this start that feels like a dip matters!

And key elements though the characterization of Zhang Jing-Chu's conflicted mother and law-abider is basic, heard and simple stuff done before but no one on the production has decided to re-invent conventions. Instead they aim strike a chord within them. Even big force in the form of Nick Cheung is a violent, monster of a man with life spirit and the closure this trio needs to come to works and matters within this fast paced thriller-scenario.

This is why Beast Stalker would be a little special movie for even viewers not familiar with Hong Kong cinema. Accessible but with its heart pumping for the city of Hong Kong, its talents (young and old... with old represented in an excellent way by veteran Liu Kai-Chi) and its blend of genres, Dante Lam shows that the distance between reliable efforts such as Hit Team and thoroughly excellent character-material in Beast Cops have not made him forget. On the contrary, there's been building blocks added since then.