Kung Fu Killer

There's a serial killer on the loose targeting martial arts masters in this efficient thriller that's sure to tick all the boxes for fans of Asian action movies. Donnie Yen plays it moody as the jailed kung fu instructor freed by the cops to help track down a murderer who is dispatching his victims using their own specialist styles. The cat-and-mouse plotting throws up some nice twists, while Yen demonstrates his virtuoso action choreography in a series of vigorous set pieces. Wang Baoqiang also makes a formidable villain - a "martial arts maniac" in an orthopaedic shoe - and his face-off with Yen amid bustling lanes of motorway traffic is a pulse-racing highlight. It may not break the mould, but Kung Fu Killer (also known as Kung Fu Jungle) certainly delivers when it comes to meticulous close-quarters fighting, perilous stunt work and breathless pacing. And an extended coda reveals the many industry talents who cameo in the film, including Golden Harvest supremo Raymond Chow, Infernal Affairs director Andrew Lau and veteran Shaw Brothers star David (credited here as John) Chiang. This hat-tip adds to the appeal of a solid genre piece that pays tribute to Far Eastern movie-making with affection and respect.