“Sons of the Neon Night” Teaser Poster
Filmmaker Juno Mak (Revenge: A Love Story, Dream Home), the actor/director of 2013’s Rigor Mortis, is finally giving Sons of the Neon Night its world premier screening at this year’s Cannes.
With a production budget of over $50 million, Distribution Workshop is marketing this gangster epic as “Hong Kong’s Most Expensive Film” (via Variety). This now aligns with the numerous reports, which stated that the reason behind the film’s long delay (it was completed back in 2018) was because it had exceeded its budget by a whopping HK$200mil (S$35.26mil).
Sons of the Neon Night is set in an alternative, snow-covered Hong Kong — a startling sight, given that the city does not experience snowfall. The death of a pharmaceutical company chairman unleashes a wave of chaos and power struggles in the underworld. His youngest son attempts to break away from his family’s criminal legacy. However, he faces threats from his fugitive older brother and the ruthless lieutenants loyal to their deceased father (via Deadline).
The highly-anticipated film features an all-star cast that includes Takeshi Kaneshiro (Wu Xia), Louis Koo (Three), Ritchie Ren (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In), Tony Leung Ka Fai (League of Gods), Lau Ching-wan (The White Storm 3), Kara Hui (Mrs K), Gao Yuanyuan (Robin-B-Hood), Michelle Wai (As The Light Goes Out) and Conan Lee (Aces Go Places V: The Terracotta Hit).
Here’s a poetic description of the film from Mak himself: “A land free of drugs depicts utopia, or so they say – Yet only those who have been there would know the eternal flames that burn in that place called Hell. It was with his creation of medicine that men began deluding himself about the illusive power to ordain life and death. Be it naivety or arrogance, we glory in awe, eyes closed; deaf to the quiet humming of destruction that lingers on the edge of desire. As it goes, blood weeps more eagerly than tears in a merciless world.”
We expect a Trailer to pop up soon. Until then, don’t miss a recent Teaser and a Behind-the-Scenes featurette below:
As Heaven’s Gate ended up being a good movie once the director’s cut was released, hopefully Sons of the Neon Light ends up being good and not going through all the troubles of the former film.
What’s the best version of Heaven’s Gate available on the market?
Criterion’s DVD and Blu Ray set is awesome. The film looks amazing and you can see every dollar that was spent. The extras are great and Michael Cimino gets emotional when talking about the film’s critical re-evaluation, and that he’s glad more people appreciate it.
Hong Kong netizens have long joked about this being more urban legend rather than an actual movie due to its long delay, similar to Warriors of Future and Back to the Past (all starring Louis Koo coincidentally lol).
I’m just here to see how many of the main actors are willing to come and promote this if it does come out, given the longstanding rumor that Juno Mak wasn’t on great terms with a lot of them due to his insistence on reshooting scenes until he got his desired result.
When the film public screening ?
There was apparently a 15 minute preview screening at Hong Kong’s FILMART conference last week but only a select few people were allowed to watch, so there hasn’t been much detail that has been made public. I think this might premiere at Cannes Film Festival to give it some extra exposure; it worked pretty well for Twilight of the Warriors last year so they might try this tactic again.
They’ve opened an Instagram for the movie. Looks like they’re getting ready for an official release: https://www.instagram.com/sons.of.the.neon.night/
Very cool, thanks. Sounds like a Trailer should be dropping soon!
Officially selected for this year’s Midnight Screenings at Cannes: https://www.instagram.com/sons.of.the.neon.night/p/DIQ4BKMBVjm/
wooooooaaaahhhhhhh!!!
Takeshi Kaneshiro returns!! His last movie was in 2017.
Looking forward to this 🙂
Huh. I guess I haven’t noticed his hiatus. What was he up to? It will be great to see him acting again. He’s always had good screen presence and enthusiasm.
In terms of acting (both film and TV) nothing, his last movie was this one (filmed in 2018), and according to an interview with director Peter Chan from 2022 he basically considered himself retired, choosing to live a reclusive life away from the spotlight in Japan.
A recluse? That doesn’t sound pleasant. I figured even if he wasn’t in show business anymore, he’d still be doing something worthwhile.