Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In - Hong Kong Action

In the aftermath of a brutal gang war, the Kowloon Walled City has become a chaotic refuge for criminals and outcasts. The uneasy peace that settles over the city is shattered when Lok -kwan, an underground fighter, crosses paths with a ruthless crime boss. A bounty is placed on Lok’s head, forcing him to navigate the dangerous, Walled City. As his enemies break the fragile peace to hunt him down, Lok fights to survive forming crucial alliances within the Walled City. Are his enemies merely seeking revenge, or is there more to his story than anyone knows?

This is the premise of 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In', a high-octane action thriller based on the novel City of Darkness by Yuvi and the comic of the same name by Andy Seto. Produced by John Chong and Wilson Yip (Ip Man series), the movie has screenplay by Au Kin-yee (Limbo, Cold Eyes, Mad Detective) and is directed by Soi Cheang (Limbo, Mad Fate). A high-energy tribute that perfectly captures the intense, action-packed style of '80s & early 90s Hong Kong action movies.

What truly sets 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In' apart is its relentless action.The film’s fight sequences are striking, intense and very well choreographed. Soi Cheang masterfully captures the raw energy of the genre, blending fast-paced action with sharp, stylized visuals. Raymond Lam plays 'Lok' alongside a massive ensemble cast that includes the legendary actor / choreographer Sammo Hung, Louis Koo, Richie Jen, Raymond Lam, Terrance Lau, Kenny Wong, Philip Ng, Tony Wu and German Cheung. Sammo Hung, with his decades of experience, commands the screen as 'Mr.Big'. He is proving his fans that he still got the moves even in his 70's. Louis Koo delivers one of his finest performances, exuding style and poise in his role as Cyclone. He brings a measured, charismatic presence to the character, captivating not just in the high-octane action scenes, but in every scene he is part of. However, it’s Philip Ng as King who truly steals the spotlight. Within every frame, he electrifies the screen, blending wild intensity, unpredictability, and sheer madness into one unforgettable performance. He plays an unnatural force —speed, chaos, and intensity all wrapped up in a single character. His portrayal of this 'over the top' character could easily have its own montage, set to Halford’s ‘One You Love to Hate,’ perfectly capturing his larger-than-life presence.

While the action is front and center, the movie touches on themes of loyalty, power, brotherhood, survival and complex human relationships. Within the hierarchy and politics, the Walled City itself is a character in the movie. The film might have benefited from spending a little more time on the emotional arcs and relationships between characters. While the action and intrigue drive the plot, a deeper exploration of these connections could have added more weight to the story. Additionally, the inclusion of spirit powers is debatable. The movie and character would have likely been just as effective—and perhaps even more —without them. Kudos to the direction, stunt team, cinematography, and production design for immersing the audience into the claustrophobic texture of the walled city, with the camera moving to enhance the sense of confinement, danger, chase and thrill with tiny crammed shops, narrow stairs, rusty tangled pipelines, low-drooping cables and hissing steam vents on damaged concrete in the backdrop.

Why Watch It?
If you're a fan of high-octane action films, with physical stunts and impeccable fight choreography, the film delivers in full —even reaching absurd levels of intensity at times. For action movie aficionados and fans of the iconic Hong Kong cinema from the 80s and early 90s, 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In' is a nostalgic thrill ride that perfectly captures the spirit of that era.

Beyond the action, the work in display from the cast & crew, elevates the film, with each bringing something unique to the table. This is not just a top box-office grosser, but has also earned acclaim, selection and nominations to various festivals and awards. The project had been in development for nearly two decades, with early rumors suggesting that it was initially co-directed by John Woo and Johnnie To. Over the years, the film underwent numerous changes, both in its direction and its cast. It was set to feature stars like Chow Yun-fat, Andy Lau, Tony Leung, and Donnie Yen, among others at different points in time. For those intrigued by the Walled City, a quick search on the internet at retro images of the real structure adds an extra layer of authenticity.