bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Richard James Havis

Anthony Wong Chau-sang is generally known as a character actor who specialises in crazed and outlandish roles.
However, long before the Hong Kong cinema veteran became associated with these extreme stereotypes, he spent the early 1990s proving his expansive acting range, as showcased in these three films.
1. Full Contact (1992)
Wong plays second fiddle to Chow Yun-fat in Ringo Lam Ling-tung’s hyperviolent actioner, but it is a meaty supporting role that links Chow to his would-be nemesis, played by Simon Yam Tat-wah.
Surprisingly, Wong is not the crazy one here – that honour goes to Bonnie Fu Yuk-jing as the violent nymphomaniacal gangster Virgin. Instead, Wong plays it straight throughout, giving a more restrained performance than the rest of the cast.


Often considered an outlier in Lam’s oeuvre, Full Contact is glossy and over the top rather than gritty and realistic, featuring fiery explosions, big guns, ultra-violent mass murders, and sleazy dance-club scenes.
To help his action film compete with the wild, extravagant martial arts movies ruling early 90s screens, Lam added uncharacteristic flash and filmed in Thailand for a fresh look.
Chow plays Jeff, a cool small-time criminal with seemingly invincible combat skills. His best friend Sam (Wong) is his opposite – a whiny and cowardly loser.
The plot hinges on Sam betraying Jeff to the outré gang boss Judge (Yam) and his Mad Max-style underlings. Can Jeff forgive Sam for shooting him and leaving him for dead, and will Sam return to his side to aid his revenge on Judge?

While Hong Kong action films are not known for character development, Wong’s character spends much of the first half-hour cowering in fear until forced to shoot his friend, later transitioning into a violent thug, and then a remorseful partner.
Wong’s grounded action scenes contrast with Chow’s superman heroics, bringing realism to an otherwise comic book-style film. Looking more like a snotty schoolboy than a glamorous gangster, Wong’s offbeat portrayal shifts Sam away from being a genre stereotype.
Lam changed up his usual acting team for Full Contact, and Chow told the South China Morning Post that working with Wong and the other newcomers improved the shoot’s “chemistry”.
2. 3 Days of a Blind Girl (1993)
This surprisingly well-made film seamlessly merges a Category III sex flick with a dramatic psychothriller. In the early 90s, Hong Kong directors readily showed what foreign filmmakers only implied, and this explicit approach led to a very effective shocker.
3 Days of a Blind Girl is inspired by the 1967 American psychological thriller Wait Until Dark, in which Audrey Hepburn played a blind woman terrorised by a gang seeking drugs hidden in a doll. It takes this core premise of a trapped, vulnerable protagonist, but radically adds gore and horror to the suspense.


Directed by Chan Wing-chiu, 3 Days of a Blind Girl is a two-hander pitting Wong against Veronica Yip Yuk-hing, then riding high as a sex symbol after three 1991 Category III nude appearances. Though all eyes were on Yip, Wong’s convincing turn as a psychopathic home invader makes him an equal partner.
The simple, twist-driven plot sees Yip as a wealthy doctor’s wife, temporarily blind for three days following laser surgery. When her husband leaves for a conference, Sam (Wong) turns up and invites himself in. It quickly transpires he is not an “old friend” but an intruder intending to murder her.
Unlike many Category III stars, Yip was a trained actress; she gives Wong excellent material to play off, easily transitioning her character from a demure wife to a vengeful Valkyrie.

Wong begins the film simply looking weird, sporting a wavy mop of hair and shorts held up by disturbing braces. He quickly gets to work as a psycho: killing the woman’s dog and serving it for dinner, and fondling the naked, blind Yip in the shower without actually touching her.
He builds his villainous character with bizarre tics, like trying to kiss a mouse, before going berserk à la Jack Nicholson in The Shining.
He keeps returning from the dead to wreak havoc, but the heroine, in true “video nasty” fashion, weaponises her house’s layout and resources to turn herself into a killing machine – and Sam is no match for that.
3. Rock N’ Roll Cop (1994)
For this story of a Hong Kong police officer on the tail of a murderous gang leader (Yu Rongguang) in the mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen, Wong teamed up with director Kirk Wong Chi-keung, known for slick crime dramas such as 1993’s Crime Story.
Anthony Wong’s character is called the “rock n’ roll cop” because of his love of classic rock records, something shown at the film’s start, when he sells vintage vinyl from a street stall. That scene depicts a typically eccentric Wong, but he quietens down afterwards, and his titular love of music is rarely mentioned.

Wong plays the hero for a change, and focuses on exuding a downbeat charm. Kirk Wong demands serious acting from his players, and Anthony Wong dispenses with his usual tics and exaggerations to play the role realistically.
The film moves so fast that there is little time for character development, so Wong ends up giving a solid yet straightforward performance of a policeman doing his job.
In this regular feature series on the best of Hong Kong cinema, we examine the legacy of classic films, re-evaluate the careers of its greatest stars and revisit some of the lesser-known aspects of the beloved industry.
Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook.


3 Anthony Wong films from the early 1990s that show the Hong Kong actor’s wide range

How Leslie Cheung broke all the rules to become Hong Kong’s greatest modern superstar

In their words: Qiqi Yam’s unabashed support of Hong Kong’s designers and fashion scene

How two of Benny Chan’s 2000s films bridged old-school stunts and modern Hong Kong action

Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Anthony Wong in a still from Full Contact. The Hong Kong actor’s restrained turn as a cowardly gangster brought realism to the otherwise comic book-style 1992 action film.

Anthony Wong (front) and Chow Yun-fat in a still from Full Contact.

Anthony Wong in a still from 3 Days of a Blind Girl (1993).

Anthony Wong in a still from Rock N’ Roll Cop (1994).

Nicholas Tse in a still from Invisible Target (2007), directed by Benny Chan, whose 2000s films were a blend of classic stunts and modern action.

Benny Chan Muk-sing directed films such as A Moment of Romance (1990) and The White Storm (2013).

Leon Lai (left) and Ekin Cheng in a still from Heroic Duo (2003), directed by Benny Chan.

Jaycee Chan (left) in a still from Invisible Target.

 Shawn Yue (centre) in a still from Invisible Target.

How Hong Kong director Herman Yau went from gory cult films to action blockbusters

Hong Kong filmmaker Herman Yau. We examine the Hong Kong director’s journey from cult horror films to action blockbusters. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Film historian Frank Djeng. Photo: Claire S Burke

A still from Ebola Syndrome (1996), which Frank Djeng says is shot like a television horror movie.

Anthony Wong stars in Ip Man: The Final Fight, directed by Herman Yau. 

Karena Lam (centre) and Andy Lau (right) in a still from The White Storm 2: Drug Lords (2019). Photo: Universe Entertainment

Anthony Wong in a still from The Untold Story (1993).

Andy Lau in a still from Shock Wave (2017).

Nicholas Tse in a still from Customs Frontline (2024).

How The Five Venoms pioneered the superhero team in Chinese martial arts cinema

Lo Mang (left) in a still from Five Deadly Venoms, Chang Cheh’s 1978 film.

Lu Feng (left) and Lo Mang in a still from The Five Venoms, a fan-favourite Hong Kong movie that launched the Venom Mob, a Chinese martial arts superhero team, in 1978.

Wai Pak (left) and Ku Feng in a still from The Five Venoms.

Lo Mang (left) in a still from The Five Venoms.

Cecilia Cheung: Hong Kong actress, sex scandal victim and Chinese social media star

Cecilia Cheung at the 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards in 2004. The actress’ personal life garnered a lot of attention in the 2000s, with tabloids covering scandals and her high-profile romantic life. Photo: SCMP

Cheung in 1999. Photo: Oliver Tsang

Cheung speaks after receiving the award for best new performer, as veteran actors Liza Wang and Danny Lee look on, at the 19th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2000. Photo: Martin Chan

Cheung and Nicholas Tse in 2001. Photo: Reuters

Cheung in a still from Lost in Time (2003), for which she won best actress at the 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards. Photo: China Star Entertainment Group

Cheung and Tse at the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2011, the year they filed for divorce. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Cheung and Stephen Chow in a still from King of Comedy (1999). Her feature-film debut remains one of her most memorable roles. Photo: The Star Overseas

Cheung and her three sons. Photo: Weibo

Cheung in a photo she posted on her Weibo account in 2023. Photo: Weibo

Lifestyle

Entertainment

Culture

Film & TV

Lists

Before becoming stereotyped for extreme roles, Wong gave nuanced turns as a whiny gangster opposite Chow Yun-fat and as Veronica Yip’s tormentor


Before becoming stereotyped for extreme roles, Wong gave nuanced turns as a whiny gangster opposite Chow Yun-fat and as Veronica Yip’s tormentor.


3 Anthony Wong films from the early 1990s that show the Hong Kong actor’s wide range

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Before becoming stereotyped for extreme roles, Wong gave nuanced turns as a whiny gangster opposite Chow Yun-fat and as Veronica Yip’s tormentor

1. Full Contact (1992)

Before becoming stereotyped for extreme roles, Wong gave nuanced turns as a whiny gangster opposite Chow Yun-fat and as Veronica Yip’s tormentor