Subtle cinematography and acting throws out a number of interesting things, but they keep extending/repeating the surveillance scenes and don't capitalize on what works. Some ominous hints of karma like its a boogeyman but little exploration of how characters' own motivations may bring about what's attributed to an external force. Movie's a bit like an unsuccessful surveillance job--some interesting things popped up while you were watching, but you didn't really get what you were looking for.

Yau spent enough time working for Johnny To to assemble some seriously craftly structures here. The opening sequence in particular is an incredible piece of pinpoint geometry, a breathless introduction to a typically great ensemble of To players, made effortless by a perfect display of efficiency. The rest of the film has a slower, more peculiar cadence, emphasizing the melodrama and absurdity of a drawn out punchline, as it mirrors the fishhooks of an artificial, constructed version of karma.