Anthony Wong ("Infernal Affairs") is Wong Ho-chiu, a real estate tycoon whose drug-addicted daughter Daisy (Janice Man) is found dead after being kidnapped. To seek out those who are responsible for his daughter's violent death, Wong Ho-chiu and Chor (Richie Ren), his faithful bodyguard with a past, embark on a revenge mission.
But perhaps a 2011 Hong Kong film "Punished" ("Bou ying") is not what you expect. The thriller is produced by Johnny To, but it is not something you would call "action-oriented," let alone "action-packed." Directed by Wing-cheong Law, Johnny To's trusted assistant director, "Punished" focuses our hero's descent into the darkness. The film's tone is a little similar to that of Johnny To-directed "Vengeance" starring Johnny Hallyday and Anthony Wong, though action scenes of "Punished" (there are not many) are less stylized.
"Punished" puts its emphasis on characters, not on action. Anthony Wong's strict father (who is also a ruthless businessman) feels he could be partly responsible for what happened to his family - hence the film's title - even though he finds it hard to admit it to himself. Richie Ren's character follows his employer's orders faithfully while trying to maintain the relationship with his estranged son who doesn't care.
So remember, the film is neither an action nor a horror. With powerful performances from the leads, "Punished" is more like a vigilante drama, and as such it delivers.
