WATCH NOW
Deep into the heart of Hong Kong drug networks lies Yu Qiu (Nick Cheung), an undercover policeman. He bears witness to many illegal acts, but one crime that makes his blood boil is child kidnapping. During his most recent operation, he saves a girl from being kidnapped, only to realize that there is a bigger operation of Child trafficking that seeks to serve the lord known as “the Boss”. Yu Qiu teams up with Jim, his handler and Jackie, a technical aide to get rid of this underground operation.
Although it sounds slow-paced, this is where you will be proven wrong. The narrative structure of how things unfold is quite interesting in the case of Nick Cheung’s new Hong Kong crime film. He wouldn’t expect the first scene to have to deal with a fight with a hyena while within the first few minutes of the movie and the elements of science fiction is unexpected. Everything shifts when they reveal that the film does not even take place in Hong Kong, but is rather a fictional city called Solo Field. Solo field is drenched in rain and smoke, and has a population of twenty million with an unending skyline.
The film’s visual presentation is out of control. Everything is covered with hundred of CGI effects which are reminiscent of the style used in Sin City. Accompanied with random photography that looks as though the camera operator was having a seizure during the filming. It’s utterly incoherent, but also strangely thrilling. Even the picture has been color graded to a mixture of imgrime gray.
It must be said that the script, is terrible. For the most part, the dialogue is bluntly repetive and the characters are competently crude. The rest of the cast however, appear to be ready for attempts at anything. They’re guided by Cheung, who starred in the movie, wrote it, and directed it. He plays Yu with a great sense of humor and displays impressive physicality. He Jiong seems purposely absurd with his lanky frame engulfed in a -40’s hat and coat. His character is preformed in an over the top earnest and earnestly ridiculous fashion. Favourite actors remain a mystery to HK movie fans as Michael Miu, Maggie Cheung, and Lam Suet play a variety of roles. Xu Jinglei makes a glorious impression halfway through the film, giving it a nice boost of energy and a valuable second wind.
It would be difficult to argue about The Trough being a well-made film and maintain a straight face. The plot is a total disaster complete with enormous gaps in the plot’s construction and logic. The dialogues are often hilarious bordering on the absurd. The images are quite unsteady and often a bit too imaginative beyond their production budget. However, The Trough is incredibly amusing. It is going to become the perfect cult movie: too strange for the mainstream, too rough around the edges to gain wide critical acclaim, and just bizarre enough to hopefully capture a niche audience that will ensure its parties for years to come. True cult films however, you can never accurately predict at the time of release, but this cult satire – not only in spite of its flaws, but to some extent because of them – is definitely a contender.
To watch more movies like Where Love Found Me (2016) 123Movies.
Also Watch for more movies like: 123MOVIES
