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Mad Detective

Play trailer Poster for Mad Detective 2008 1h 29m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Chan Kwai Bun (Lau Ching Wan) has the power to see people's "inner personalities," making him a very capable, if unorthodox and unstable, police detective. He is invited back to active duty by Ho Ka On (Andy On), a cop investigating the disappearance of a fellow officer whose weapon has been used in multiple robberies. Ho and Ko Chi Wai (Lam Ka Tung), the missing cop's partner, go after an Indian suspect. Bun, however, can see both men's inner selves and suspects something else at play.
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Mad Detective

Critics Reviews

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Ty Burr Boston Globe 08/08/2008
3/4
A stylishly funky Hong Kong thriller from cult director Johnnie To and co-writer/codirector Wai Ka Fai. Go to Full Review
V.A. Musetto New York Post 07/18/2008
3/4
Mad Detective doesn't always make sense, and you cannot always tell what is real and what is imaginary, but viewers will be having too much zonked-out fun to care. Go to Full Review
Manohla Dargis New York Times 07/18/2008
4.5/5
If the insanely inventive and entertaining Mad Detective weren't so weird -- and in Cantonese -- hordes of action geeks would be lining the block to see it. Go to Full Review
Daniel Kasman MUBI 11/17/2017
After so many stoical, staunchly confident films from Johnnie To, it's always refreshing to see one of his collaborations with fellow Milkyway Image director/producer Wai Ka-fai... Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 05/09/2010
B
An inventive oddball pic that's diverting and borders on the ridiculous but never becomes uninteresting or completely loses its way. Go to Full Review
Stan Hall Oregonian 09/26/2008
Expect an inferior American remake within five years. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Landon J @Minxsykitty Aug 24 Gotta admit I thought it was pretty formulaic and flat. Ending was rather "meh". Only mildly interesting at best. See more Shin S Jan 21 一种非常具有时代风格的影像,缺少当下悬疑电影的那种华丽装饰,但也不乏一种导演喜欢的美学,比如破碎的镜子中闪现的人影营造一种迷幻和真假难辨的氛围。悬念并不复杂,以至于到了一半左右事件就揭开谜底,但把疯子和神通合并到一个侦探心理,拆解掉了破案的真实感,缺少一种悬疑电影真正的探案要素。 See more Nawt W 04/10/2023 This is one of those scarce movies that might seem erratic until you get to the ending, where everything just clicks and all the pieces form one remarkable narrative. To say that the ending blew me away is an understatement; it retroactively gives so much more meaning to Inspector Ho's role in the movie. This is how you create subversion. Instead of you groaning at his foolishness for doubting Bun, you are shocked by how the ending complements the initial storyline of corrupt cops and their egos, who will do anything to protect themselves. Bun's ability to see personalities is captivating both visually and narratively. There are so many bizarre and impulsive interactions, especially with the seven that Ko Chi-wai has. I wish more of them were highlighted; a couple of them don't even say a word. It really feels like they are supposed to represent the seven deadly sins, but alas, not enough time was given to them. See more Dick C 08/02/2022 It's a good script, one of writers, Au Kin Yee who later gets the best screenplay by the Limbo from 40th Hong Kong Film Awards, 2021... See more 06/06/2021 A psychological detective thriller that doesn't make sense with its supernatural crap and about this psychologically mad detective that has delusions and the ability to see other people's sins and inner personalities, which helped him crack cases. However, the film is relentless in maintaining suspense, with great twists that you couldn't see it coming. A ridiculous yet original and brilliant detective thriller that will have its chills stay in your mind for a long time, and maybe drive you insane, recommended. See more 01/03/2016 I was able to catch up on a more recent Johnny To film via cable and I quite enjoyed Lau Ching Wan as the titular detective, who is able to see the true personalities of criminals, allowing him to solve increasingly strange cases. Well worth a look. See more Read all reviews
Mad Detective

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Movie Info

Synopsis Chan Kwai Bun (Lau Ching Wan) has the power to see people's "inner personalities," making him a very capable, if unorthodox and unstable, police detective. He is invited back to active duty by Ho Ka On (Andy On), a cop investigating the disappearance of a fellow officer whose weapon has been used in multiple robberies. Ho and Ko Chi Wai (Lam Ka Tung), the missing cop's partner, go after an Indian suspect. Bun, however, can see both men's inner selves and suspects something else at play.
Director
Johnnie To, Ka-Fai Wai
Producer
Johnnie To, Ka-Fai Wai
Screenwriter
Ka-Fai Wai, Kin Yee Au
Distributor
IFC First Take
Production Co
One Hundred Years of Film Co. Ltd., Milky Way Image Company
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 18, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 19, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.6K
Runtime
1h 29m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital