Since John Wick: Chapter 4, MyMMO editor Nikolas Hernes has been craving new action movies with good choreography and fights. On Prime Video, he found one that has thrilled him every second.
There are action movies like sand on the seashore, but especially Prime Video, as a streaming service, I’ve come to appreciate for the genre in recent years. Often, there are real action gems hidden there that can even compete with movies like John Wick.
A recommendation that I recently watched is the Chinese film City of Darkness, which originally premiered in 2024.
Chan Lok-kwan, played by Raymond Lam, just wants to have a passport. To obtain it, he gets involved with gangsters. However, things go wrong, and he flees to the Kowloon Walled City, a former area in Hong Kong where many refugees lived, consisting mostly of closely built high-rises.
There too, there is a gang with which Lok-kwan now has to make amends. However, he hides a secret that will lead to many fights.
A Unique Atmosphere
I don’t need to say much about the story; it is merely a means to an end and not really the highlight of City of Darkness. But before I tell you about the fights, I need to discuss the atmosphere. The Kowloon Walled City is cramped, dark, and also dirty.
Instead of relying on this cold and unfriendly mood, the film manages to create a warm and familial atmosphere. This is achieved partly through the residents, who have an everyday life and their own shops despite the seemingly miserable situation, and partly through supporting characters with whom Lok-kwan befriends.
As the story unfolds, he finds friends, especially among three followers of the gangster bosses, with whom he not only beats up villains. They drink together, play Mahjong, or sing karaoke. A brotherly vibe is generally created, which is never explicitly discussed, but makes the broken city a special place.
As a viewer, you understand why the partly outcast individuals stay in this area and do not desperately try to move to the nicer parts of Hong Kong.
But that is only the framework of City of Darkness. The film is watched for the fight scenes, and they are not only well choreographed, they are a lot of fun.
Fights to Melt Away
As a homage to action films from Hong Kong, City of Darkness holds its ground against other genre representatives. The film has creative ideas, especially regarding the atmosphere of the rather tight city and the objects that fly around there.
There are choreographies that are fun and rely on slapstick humor, but also those that are brutal and dramatic, creating a good mix. Similar to films of the Wuxia genre, there are also mild supernatural elements, but they are only used as a small element in the fight scenes. City of Darkness is for me a darker version of Kung Fu Hustle, but without being overly serious.
Although these elements exist, the film also never looks too artificial, allowing the choreography of the actors and stuntmen to shine. Overall, the film’s look is a pleasant change from classic Hollywood cinema.
I really liked the camera work in City of Darkness because it follows the movements quickly, but never becomes too shaky. The film dares to hold the camera on the action and avoids cutting away from moves unnaturally. This gives each fight a nice flow, which the eye can easily follow.
The fights in City of Darkness are at a similar level to those in John Wick for me. Although there are hardly any firearms, the confidence and creativity are on par with Keanu Reeves’ film. So, those who want to be hooked again by fights since John Wick: Chapter 4 should definitely check out City of Darkness.
What action movies can you recommend, and have you already seen City of Darkness? Feel free to write us your opinion in the comments. If you’re looking for more movie recommendations in the action genre, we have a list for you here: 5 Action Movies Rated 18 for Hardcore Film Fans

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