Drug War (毒戰). 2012. Hong Kong. Directed by Johnnie To. With Sun Honglei, Louis Koo, Huang Yi, Lo Hoi-pang, Lam Suet, Gordon Lam Ka-tung. Digital. Courtesy Well Go USA Entertainment. In Mandarin and Cantonese; English subtitles. 107 min.
In this hard-charging thriller, Johnnie To navigates the treacherous waters of mainland Chinese censorship to deliver one of his most taut, uncompromising works. Louis Koo stars as a drug lord forced to cooperate with a stoic police captain (mainland star Sun Honglei) in a dangerous sting operation. To’s crisp, economical direction strips away any romanticized notions of the drug trade, presenting a world of stark moral choices and sudden violence. The director’s mastery of space and timing is evident in several bravura set pieces, including a near-silent hotel lobby confrontation that crackles with tension. Drug War marks To’s first crime film produced entirely in mainland China, yet it sacrifices none of his trademark intensity or complex character dynamics. This unrelenting examination of the futility of China’s war on drugs showcases To’s ability to work within systemic constraints while delivering a powerful critique of institutional corruption.