Mad Detective

An inventive, hilarious, sometimes graphic twist on the hardboiled Hong Kong police thriller, Mad Detective follows the titular character’s initial descent into madness—a shocking gesture in the opening minutes that sets the manic tone for the rest of the film—and his subsequent involvement in a new case with a younger, eager former colleague.

As they track the disappearance of a missing police detective, the younger colleague, Ho, relies on intellect and facts, while Bun, the mad detective, relies on intuition and a preternatural ability to see the distinct ‘personalities’ that lurk within an individual. Once this skill is established, in a funny scene where a toadying investigative team member’s insecurities are revealed, the perspective shifts back and forth between Bun’s reality and the reality experienced by other characters. The real strength of the film rests on the way the filmmakers exploit this device, setting up scenes where multiple ‘personalities’ are played by actors of different ages, sizes, and genders, often physically grappling with one another.

It makes for fascinating viewing. There’s a nervous energy throughout as the audience is never entirely sure which perspective is ‘real’ or whether Bun can be trusted. His unpredictable outbursts and revelations are particularly memorbable. But there are also some affectionate moments between Bun and his (late? ex?) wife which resonate, underscoring the way relationships are often undermined by memories of a less complicated past.

My only tiny grumble is that the film falls a bit short as a detective story. Since the main character can, at any time, ‘know’ whodunnit and how, there's very little doubt about how the mytery will be solved. Still, what the film may lack in suspense, it more makes up for in originality and humour. Recommend.

In the Q&A after the film, the filmmakers explained that they were influenced by Vincent Van Gogh, who saw in the world around him what others could not. The premise of this film is thus, “What if Van Gogh were a police detective in Hong Kong?” How can you NOT like that?