The Detective (2007 film)
The Detective is a 2007 Hong Kong neo-noir mystery thriller film directed by Oxide Pang, and starring Aaron Kwok as a private investigator hired to track down a missing young woman who may be linked to a series of murders in Thailand. The film was followed by a sequel, The Detective 2, which was released in 2011.
| The Detective | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Traditional | C+偵探 |
| Simplified | C+侦探 |
| Mandarin | C Jiā Zhēn Tàn |
| Cantonese | C gaa1 zing1 taam3 |
| Directed by | Oxide Pang |
| Produced by | The Pang Brothers |
| Written by | Oxide Pang Thomas Pang |
| Starring | Aaron Kwok Liu Kai-chi Wayne Lai Shing Fui-On |
| Music by | Jadet Chawang Payont Permsith |
| Cinematography | Decha Srimantra |
| Edited by | Curran Pang |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universe Films Distribution Company |
Release date |
|
Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese Thai |
| Box office | US$2,151,820[1] |
Plot
Tam (Aaron Kwok) is an impoverished private detective. One day, a guy nicknamed Fatty asked Tam to find a lady who wanted to kill him. He left Tam a portrait and a large amount of cash without giving any other details. Tam could not resist the temptation of the offer and so his investigation started.
Knowing that Sum, the lady in the picture, is a frequent visitor of a store where the picture was shot, Tam tried to get hints of her whereabouts from the store keepers. He was told to find through her mahjong playmates. Tam started with Ming, but when he arrived at Ming's home, he found Ming was hanging at the living room.
As Tam continued to search for other mahjong playmates of Sum, he was shocked to find each of them murdered every time he was about to be in contact with them. He discovered a half-burnt photo at one of the scenes. Tam realised the suspicions behind the deaths and decided that he had to protect the next target of the invisible murderer. The photo was the only clue for Tam to uncover the case.
Cast
- Aaron Kwok as Tam
- Liu Kai-chi as Inspector Fung Chak
- Wayne Lai as Sai Wing
- Kenny Wong as Kwong Chi-hung
- Shing Fui-On as Fei Lung
- Jo Koo as Yin
Reception
| Awards and nominations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
| 27th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actor | Aaron Kwok | Nominated |
| Best Film Editing | Oxide Pang, Curran Pang | Nominated | |
| Best Art Direction | Anuson Pinyopotjanee | Nominated | |
| Best Costume and Makeup Design | Surasak Warakitcharoen | Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Score | Payont Permsith, Jadet Chawang | Nominated | |
| Best Sound Design | Wachira Wongsaroj | Nominated | |
| Best Visual Effects | Suchada Somasavachai | Nominated | |
| 44th Golden Horse Awards | Best Actor | Aaron Kwok | Nominated |
| Best Art Direction | Anuson Pinyopotjanee | Won | |
| 14th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Film of Merit | The Detective | Won |