Director: Herman Yau
Year: 1996
Country: Hong Kong
Alternate Titles: Yi boh lai beng duk
Genre: Exploitation; Body-Horror
Plot:
Escaping Hong Kong after a brutal murder, a man arrives in South Africa for a fresh start and is able to live for several years in the business but after being infected with the Ebola virus begins deadly infection sprees through the two cities as the authorities race to stop him.
Review:
This is easily one of the finest exploitation films in the genre. Among the best parts here is the generally dirty and sleazy atmosphere present that aims to feature any kind of greasy, grimy element possible. The main focus here is on the guy we're following, one of the greasiest and most despicable characters around whose sole concern is trying to screw anything that moves while offering up all manner of racist epithets towards the local people in the community or trying to rape any woman who talks to him in a slightly confrontational manner. Showing no compunction towards preparing spoiled and diseased meat to oblivious customers whether it's through the virus or his own reproductive fluids, willingly killing anyone in his way for offering the slightest inconvenience, and generally focused on his own kinky desires being fulfilled, that he becomes the hero we're supposed to follow for this is a strong start to this one.
Beyond the main character, this one works incredibly well when dealing with the sleaziness of everything else here. The whole idea of the virus spreading by his own wonton desire to hide the bodies of his employers in the meat being served to the customers which no one is able to notice in time once the outbreak spreads while the later scenes back in Hong Kong are just as terrifying. Featuring the scenes of the officers trying to contain the virus while he unwillingly spreads it through those around him by seemingly innocuous means and innocent encounters, this becomes a fun wild ride as the use of the more realistic protocol procedures to keep it contained not just in the hospital but also out on the city streets as the police race to contain him before he spreads the virus even more. Combined with the fine nudity present through the numerous sex and rape scenes as well as the great gore for the messy effects of the virus, these all give this quite a lot to like.
While not that detrimental, there are some flaws to this one. Among the biggest drawbacks is the highly irritating and underwhelming comedy that comes into play here with the detectives trying to investigate the incidents. There’s not a lot to like with the series of jokes and slapstick in play here with the clumsiness of the officers who are arriving on the scenes acting like incompetent and inexperienced rookies that have never been at a crime scene before such is the way they act. Rather than lighten the mood that’s the intention, it just feels like they’re simply moronic not knowing the proper procedure or trying to be funny when they’re really not. It happens often enough to be a factor against this one, much like the other issue here in the rather troublesome investigation itself which goes through so many scenes of their inability to catch him due to their lame tactics ensuring he’s free to roam the community. This all comes off as rather ineffective and becomes maddening at points that he’s unable to be caught due to this behavior which is all that holds it back.
Overview: ****/5
A grimy and slick exploitation offering at its best, this is one of the better entries in the style and manages to maintain such a decrepit and sleazy atmosphere throughout that it holds itself up as a true genre classic. Those who prefer this kind of sleazy and grimy genre outing, fans of the creative crew, or those who are curious about the subject matter will have a lot to like here while only those who don’t appreciate these aspects should heed caution.
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