Review of: The Untold Story

This movie is, basically, one long trigger warning. The film contains graphic violence (some involving children), rampant sexism and misogyny, and a particularly difficult scene of SA content.

In “The Untold Story,” Director Herman Yau explores a fictionalized account of the Eight Immortals Restaurant murders.  The man convicted of this gruesome incident was Huang Zhiheng, an immigrant to Macau with a penchant for gambling. The victim would be restaurant owner Zheng Lin.  Additionally, Huang would kill nine of  Zheng Lin’s family members, including his children, to cover his crimes. After the murders, Huang would take over their restaurant, which he ran until his arrest. Although the bodies were never found, scattered limbs were discovered on a local beach. Naturally, this gruesome discovery prompted a police investigation, ultimately resulting in the capture of Huang Zhiheng. Huang would later commit suicide in prison.

After his capture, local rumors would begin to surface. Huang Zhiheng’s newfound occupation as a restaurateur (and the absence of the bodies) would lead to rumors of cannibalism. The rumors would also suggest that Huang served the remains to his customers. These unsettling speculations became the equally unsettling foundation of Yau’s film, released eight years after these heinous crimes occurred.

The film follows Anthony Wong as Wong Chi-han, portraying a character based on Huang Zhigeng. In the film’s opening, Wong Chi-han beats a man mercilessly before burning him alive. After these events, we see him burn his passport and flee for Macau. This introduction sets the tone for the film: Wong is a violent monster, prepared to kill for no reason and to uproot his entire life to get away with it.

Next, we fast-forward to a time after the murders. Here, we witness a family on a Macau beach making a ghastly discovery – the victims’ limbs have washed ashore. This discovery leads to a police investigation. Consequently, for the film’s first half, we follow as they search for the killer.

The cops here are something else. They are lazy, ignorant, sexist, and, for the most part, entirely inept. This ineptness is often played for laughs. This has the effect of creating a weird contrast with the otherwise pretty hardcore horror film. This is made worse because nearly all jokes involve sexist stereotypes of women. The goal might have been to break up the tension, but given what’s to come, it makes the film feel more nihilistic.

Wong becomes more paranoid and consequently more violent as the cops—lead by Hong Kong Cat III legend Danny Lee (The Killer, Dr. Lamb)—bumble their way closer. His true colors start to show again, and he begins murdering his employees before the police finally stumble upon some evidence. This will be enough to hold him but not enough for a conviction.

With Wong now in jail, the latter half of the film shifts in tone. We are, much like the police, still in the dark regarding what actually happened to the “Eight Immortals” family. This secret, “The Untold Story,” now becomes the film’s primary focus. From here on out, the impending (and certainly graphic) depiction of their demise is the carrot at the end of the stick. To that end, the police use whatever means they can to coerce a confession. A confession will ensure they get a conviction, and the audience gets their “money shot.”

This makes for a disturbing and challenging film, but does that translate into a good one? That’s a tricky question to answer, and I suppose it depends on your reasons for watching the film.

This is not a thoughtful arthouse flick. The meanness and nihilism here are literal, with very little subtext. It’s also, despite its reputation, not a non-stop gore fest. While it’s plenty gory at times, and you could certainly argue that there are statements here about police corruption and the failures of the legal system, the primary focus of this film is on crafting a repugnant and thoroughly detestable human character (a few of them, actually). The film is hugely successful in this regard.

Personally, I like this one, not because of its seedier elements, but despite them. It’s tough to look past some of the things in this film, and I can understand why many people can’t. It’s almost like the film actively tries to make you hate it, and you’ll likely find yourself saying “fuck this movie” more than once.  I certainly did. But despite everything, it has a “car crash” quality that makes it difficult to look away from. This is primarily a product of Anthony Wong’s performance. Wong is the real selling point here and is exceptional as the killer.  His performance ranks up there with Michael Rooker’s “Henry.” Specifically, He perfectly captures this weak, sneaky coward, and we can truly believe him to be capable of exploding into these fits of murderous and terrifying rage. This performance, combined with Yau’s distinct visual style and penchant for nihilism, combine for a film that, like “Henry” or “Angst,” will leave you feeling more than a little grimy.  All that to say, for fans of that flavor of real-life horror (but quite a bit more over the top), this is probably a good addition to your collection.

“The Untold Story” is an extreme horror classic and an essential piece of Category III exploitation cinema history. As such, it will not be for everyone. It has a ripped-from-the-headlines story topped off with over-the-top gore, cannibalism, sexual content (in this case, sexual violence), and a shitload of weirdly placed jokes. While it’s not a “fun” movie, per se, at least probably not for most people, it is well-made.  It will likely also challenge your faith in humanity. If that’s the type of horror that gets you, you can do much worse.

As for the 88Films Blu-Ray release, the film looks great on Blu-Ray, certainly better than the DVD I saw years ago. The release also includes some great special features, the best of which is the fantastic documentary “Category 3, The Untold Story of Hong Kong Exploitation.” Regardless of your level of interest in “The Untold Story” as a film, this doc is a must-see if you are a newcomer interested in learning about the history of Cat III cinema.