Naked Killer (1992)

Rating: D+

Dir: Clarence Fok
Star: Chingmy Yau, Simon Yam, Kelly Yao (Wai Yiu), Carrie Ng

[18] One of the most infamous of the Hong Kong category III films, something seems to have gone missing between reputation and reality; while this film has its moments, certainly, it’s not the no-holds barred sleazefest one might expect from the cover. What you get, is an interesting mix of Nikita and Basic Instinct; a hit-woman takes on a new apprentice, only for a previous trainee to come steaming back with her lesbian lover and a severe grudge to settle. The action sequences are first-class, and the characterisations are way over-the-top, like some nightmarish wet dream (probably producer Wong Jing’s). Sadly, the bits between the action are laughable, largely thanks to some truly dreadful dubbing — there is a subtitled version available, at a mere £20, but the video company sent the dub… It makes one mean mother of a trailer, but even at 78 minutes, outstays its welcome.

[And yes: the subbed version is a whole lot better, to the extent that I feel I should really get round to re-viewing this. In the meantime, check out our review on GirlsWithGuns for details.]