Blind Detective (盲探 ). 2013. Hong Kong. Directed by Johnnie To. With Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng. Digital. Courtesy of Media Asia Film Distribution (HK) Limited. In Cantonese; English subtitles. 130 min.
In this audacious, genre-bending romp, Johnnie To reunites with his frequent collaborators Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng for a film that defies easy categorization. Lau stars as a blind ex-detective with an uncanny ability to solve cold cases, who teams up with a headstrong police inspector (Cheng) in search of her missing friend. To’s virtuosic direction orchestrates a dizzying blend of slapstick comedy, romance, and gruesome crime drama. The film’s frenetic energy is punctuated by surreal reenactments of crimes, showcasing To’s visual inventiveness and dark humor. Blind Detective represents a departure from To’s more restrained crime thrillers, embracing a manic, almost screwball sensibility while still delivering moments of genuine suspense. This late-career work demonstrates To’s willingness to subvert expectations and take creative risks, offering a wild, unpredictable ride that challenges audience perceptions of both the director’s style and the conventions of Hong Kong cinema.