Blood Always Leaves a Trail|Jul. 04, 2011|Hong Kong, China|115 Min.|R
Genre: Action;Drama;Thriller
Description: In 1917, during the era of Republican China, Liu Jinxi and his wife Yu lead a simple life with their two sons, Fangzheng and Xiaotian, in Liu Village, Yunnan. One day, two bandits attempt to rob the local general store. Liu, who happens to be present, intervenes and kills the robbers when they turn violent. An autopsy reveals that one of the bandits, Yan Dongsheng, was among the government’s ten most wanted criminals. The villagers celebrate Liu as a hero, and the local magistrate is pleased with the outcome.
However, Detective Xu Baijiu, assigned to investigate the case, becomes suspicious. He finds it unlikely that Liu could have defeated such a skilled bandit by accident. Through his examination, Xu discovers evidence suggesting that Liu is, in fact, a highly trained martial artist hiding his true abilities. Further investigation reveals Liu’s real identity: Tang Long, the second-in-command of the infamous 72 Demons, a ruthless group of warriors.
Liu admits his past but insists he has reformed. Xu, a rigid lawman, refuses to believe people can change but is puzzled when Liu spares his life during a private encounter. Determined to bring Liu to justice, Xu seeks an arrest warrant from the magistrate. The magistrate delays, demanding a bribe, which Xu eventually secures from his estranged wife, who blames him for her father’s suicide.
Upon issuing the warrant, the magistrate betrays Liu by informing the leader of the 72 Demons of his whereabouts in hopes of a reward. The leader, who is Liu’s father, kills the magistrate in anger and sends his henchmen to Liu Village to capture Liu and destroy the village.
Cast director: Peter Chan
Cast actor: Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tang Wei, Jimmy Wang Yu, Kara Hui, Yin Zhu-Sheng, Zheng Wei, Li Jia-Min, Yu Kang, Kenji Tanigaki
Original name: 武俠