Familiarity they say can breed contempt. You can watch a movie and know how the story will pan out long before the credits are ever reached. Yet familiarity never stops us coming back to these stories for the simple reason we enjoy them. They can be comfort food, nourishing us even if too many may not be particularly healthy. As Well Go USA brings out a new Wu xia to our home cinema options, it's time to take a glance at what it can offer.
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Hu Yidao is coerced into an unwitting duel with another hero Miao Renfeng who believes him responsible for the death of his wife. An act set up by a team of villains led by Tao at the behest of Lord Tian. The resulting deaths lead to the disappearance of an Iron Box that leads to a hidden treasure. Ten years later it emerges and Tao is sent in search of the treasure. The original villains are joined by two younger disciples, Guiyi (Zhao Huawei) and the step daughter of Baoshu, Quinwen (Chen Yusi). They head to a mountain that is reputed to be haunted by “The Hidden Fox” the reincarnation of Hu Yidao. With villains, though, mistrust spreads swiftly and soon amidst the dangers of the mountain, the true danger is revealed
“The Flying Swordsman” is a rather generic title and proceeds to do this feature a disservice as it is far better than that. Opening on a confrontation between the two heroes, it begins in traditional wuxia fashion. Gradually, it morphs into a martial arts version of the “The Hateful eight” as our central characters are all playing a long game with on another and the focus switches less about the treasure quest but on who will survive the battle of wits. It makes for a bit of a slow burner but improves the more the running time roles on.
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The Mountain is as much a character as the others. At one point gothic with mists forming to create mirage and snow capped forrest morphing to full of flowering greenery, it becomes their own existential nightmare. The only weakness is the valley of the Hyenas which is let down by some poor CGI rendering. It creates a sense of place and atmosphere for the battle of wills to occur. Aiding this is a well constructed narrative that flashes back at various points to help audiences fill in certain blanks without ever revealing too much and keep them invested. Familiarity with Wuxia fiction will keep those who watch too many of these ahead a few steps but it's always about the story not the destination.
No successful wuxia works without some good action and the fantastical elements are serviced here with some excellent choreography that never distracts too much from the flow of the action or becomes too overwhelming. Central to the narrative is the hidden skills of the combatants and each duel reveals more as the movie progresses. A nice touch is the card that informs us of a characters demise. An arty touch that is also worth paying attention to. Each character is distinguished by their martial approach, leading to some polished confrontations that help separate them from the others. The difference here from most wuxia is the mental mind games being played. Victory frequently comes through outthinking the opponent as to martial strength. It serves to add another layer to an already intriguing narrative.
Lei Qiao directs the piece with flair and keeps the pace taught. The lighting indoors is kept dark with only flashes of light amongst the mountains. The make up serves to keep several characters as grotesque as their personality. Both Tao and Baoshu appear outwardly as twisted as they are within. It's a dark world of betrayal and evil so visually it's all in keeping with a consistent look. With a decent cast it's hard for someone to stand out but the young leads are given sufficient motivations to work with, which makes them more than just standard one-note archetypes.
Forget the generic title, this is a far more interesting piece than it would have you believe. Bolting on a solid narrative on top of a strong sense of visual style, it creates a much more engaging slice of wuxia than you would expect. Whilst fans of the genre will inevitably be a jump ahead, that does not make this any less enjoyable. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
