Paradox

2017 1h 41m CN

👍

6.8

SOLID

🥫

50%

ROTTEN

⭐

6.5

IMDB

★6.8TMDB · 221🥫50%Rotten Tomatoes★6.5IMDB · 4,662

ActionCrimeDramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When a Hong Kong police negotiator is informed about the sudden disappearance of his 16-year-old daughter in Thailand, he travels there to search for her whereabouts.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Louis Koo
Lee Chung Chi
Wu Yue
Chui Kit
Tony Jaa
Tak
Gordon Lam Ka-Tung
Cheng Hon Shou
Chris Collins
Sacha
Jacky Cai
Siu Man
Ken Lo Wai-Kwong
Ban
Hanna Chan
Lee Wing Chi

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Wilson Yip
Writers: Jill Leung Lai-Yin, Nick Cheuk Yik-Him
Languages: Cantonese, Thai, English
Countries: China, Hong Kong, Thailand

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 9 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Cantonese, Thai, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: China, Hong Kong, Thailand.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "SPL Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Wilson Yip, shot by Kenny Tse. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ken Chan Ka-Yip. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

AWARDS

Did you know

Editor Wong Hoi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Louis Koo and Wu Yue and Tony Jaa carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Wilson Yip directs. Kenny Tse behind the camera. Ken Chan Ka-Yip scores. Wong Hoi cuts. Produced in China, Hong Kong, Thailand. Dialogue in Cantonese, Thai, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 9 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Cantonese, Thai, English.
3International production across 3 countries: China, Hong Kong, Thailand.
4Part of the "SPL Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5Directed by Wilson Yip, shot by Kenny Tse. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Ken Chan Ka-Yip. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Wong Hoi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Louis Koo and Wu Yue and Tony Jaa carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt7245176 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Released under 21 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Kenny Tse
Original score: Ken Chan Ka-Yip
Editing: Wong Hoi
Production design: Kenneth Mak
Costume design: Karen Yip Kar-Yan
Makeup / hair: Jiahe Zheng
Runtime: 101 min · 1h 41m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: CN
Certification (US): 18
IMDB: Paradox (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: 50% 🥫 Rotten
IMDB rating: 6.5/10 · 4,662 votes

Awards

6 wins & 10 nominations total

Part of

SPL Collection

SPL: Sha Po Lang (released in the United States as Kill Zone) is a 2005 Hong Kong action film written and directed by Wilson Yip, and starring Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung and Simon Yam. The film was released in Hong Kong on 18 November 2005. It was followed by SPL 2 in 2015, and Paradox, released in 2017. The title Sha Po Lang refers to three words derived from Chinese astrology that each represent a different star capable of good or evil depending on their position in the heavens.