Thành Phố Dục Vọng The Trough (2018)

Nick Cheung's The Trough stands as an audacious directorial venture, showcasing his distinct artistic voice as both helmer and lead. Far from a conventional crime thriller, the film plunges into a murky neo-noir abyss where moral lines are terrifyingly blurred. Cheung's performance as an undercover cop grappling with systemic corruption is intensely internal and visceral. The film's striking cinematography and dark, almost dystopian production design forge a suffocating cinematic universe permeated by decay. It delves profoundly into themes of vengeance and human depravity, relentlessly pushing its characters into brutal scenarios, forcing audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature. While its narrative structure can occasionally feel convoluted, the sheer boldness of its storytelling and distinctive visual style firmly establish "The Trough" as a significant entry in contemporary Hong Kong crime cinema, bearing the indelible imprint of its auteur. This is a visceral and challenging cinematic experience, certainly not for those seeking straightforward entertainment.