In 1993, in the context of the continuous introduction of big-budget commercial films in the Hong Kong film market, a low-budget thriller was released silently. The film, titled "72 Hours for a Blind Girl," was not a box office success, and its niche subject matter and taboo visual experience made it only available to a specific audience.
However, as movie lovers, especially horror and thriller movie lovers, this work touches them with its unique narrative rhythm and suffocating atmosphere.
It's not a standout work, either commercially or technically; But the director's clever use of space constraints to create a sense of urgency, and the heroine Yip Yuqing's brilliant interpretation of the awakening of ordinary people in extreme environments have become a highlight of the film, making it stand out and become a characteristic work of the Hong Kong film industry in the 90s.
Nowadays, time has passed, the film market and audience tastes have changed dramatically, and the filmmakers of that generation are gradually entering the twilight, but the tension contained in the work "72 Hours of the Blind Girl" seems to have never subsided.
It has inspired countless filmmakers in later generations, and its spirit has been passed down from generation to generation in new works of different eras. For a new generation of actors like Tang Yi, having the opportunity to re-interpret this classic role is also a rare challenge and exercise.
Despite the passage of time and the replacement of the old by a new generation, it is clear that the themes and inspirations contained in this work still touch the hearts of filmmakers and audiences alike. This is also the greatest charm of any good work, they can forever infect new creators and new audiences.
We have reason to believe that this film from 29 years ago will continue to shine in the future.
Fate makes people, and tragedy is inevitable
If the car accident a year ago brought Po physical trauma that plunged her into a dark world; Then the accident that happened that night was completely mental torture and destruction.
Her husband's infidelity has cast a shadow over the family, and the rift between Po and Dr. Yang has widened. On the surface, Dr. Yang's practical care of Po's life has become the last bond that this marriage can barely maintain, but in their bones, the two have long been separated.
The arrival of this accident not only pushed Bao's helpless situation to the extreme, but also became a great opportunity for Dr. Yang to get rid of his wife and destroy evidence. Under the tricks of various complex causes and fates, this tragedy, which was already destined to happen, finally kicked off.
Po is forced to suffer more pain than the physical trauma she suffered in the car accident, and her mind and body are played between the hands of these two cruel, cold-blooded men.
The fragility of life and the vicissitudes of the situation made it impossible for her to resist the doom that befell her.
The tragedy intensified, and the killing machine was repeated
This was originally just an ordinary house, and one was an ordinary family, and the furnishings in the house revealed the triviality and comfort of the owner's life.
However, on this very night, this warm illusion crumbles away, and is replaced by violence and blood. The intricate relationship between the three men, all with their own goals and motivations, quickly escalates in this enclosed space.
Wendy wants to avenge his dead wife and find an outlet for the hurt he has suffered; Dr. Yeung was determined to get rid of his wife, a great threat who knew he was guilty; Officer Lin, who was seriously injured, tried to stop the incident, but he could not escape death.
Ah Bao, who walked into the center of this upheaval in a daze, has become the plaything and tool of this group of wolves.
Violence and gore are playing out in the house at every turn. Wendy tortures Po, who is under house arrest, with all kinds of cruel methods, trying to find twisted pleasure in it; Dr. Yang was reluctant to help in order to falsify the scene, and only wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of his wife.
Po, who has lost his sight, is unable to resist these cruelties at all, and can only endure endless pain and despair in the dark. This seemingly absurd incident brought several unrelated people together to exacerbate the tragedy that followed, and also filled the house with danger and murder.
Po, who has experienced this series of bloody events, is finally relieved after she killed the two men who almost killed her. But as Mr. Lin Zhaohua wrote in his novel "East Evil and West Poison Ultimate Edition": "The grievances of the rivers and lakes are difficult to settle with one stroke."
On the surface, it all seems to have settled: the killer has been subdued and justice has been served, but the aftermath and repercussions of the incident continue to grow. As the situation turns and the truth emerges, countless secrets hidden beneath the seemingly peaceful residential area of this row also emerge.
Dr. Yang, a successful man who has achieved fame and a happy family in the eyes of outsiders, can be said to have a very rich spare time: he keeps a lover, and he does not refuse to design and kill people.
All the shady deeds and morally corrupt acts he did in private were exposed. In contrast, this seemingly weak woman, Po, instead burst out with tremendous strength, not only escaping death, but eventually bringing her perpetrators to justice.
In a sense, the truth has finally been revealed, and justice has been served, which is undoubtedly a kind of relief and purification for Po.
The tragedy that happened at Dr. Yang's home was just an ordinary robbery and murder case on the surface, but behind it it reflected many social problems. Dr. Yang, a professional with a successful career, was morally corrupt and lawless, and finally fell into the hands of his own greed and sin.
This shows that success or status cannot be used as a criterion for judging a person's character, and greed is always the root of all evil, and violations of law and discipline will be punished.
On the other hand, the heroines played by Ye Yuqing and Tang Yi in this case are also inspiring. Despite the extremely difficult situation they all faced, they did not choose to be restrained, but burst out with amazing strength to save themselves and fight back in a life-and-death situation.
To some extent, this spirit can also be seen as a righteous rebellion, which means that the victims should no longer be silent, and they also have the right to make their voices heard and show their strength as individuals.
Therefore, the various social problems and phenomena reflected in this seemingly ordinary criminal case are worthy of people's deep thought. It exposes a corner of the moral decline of the current society, and also inspires those who are in a disadvantaged position and inspires their fighting spirit.
These meanings are far more worthy of discussion and memory than the plot of the case itself.
Today, 29 years later, the sensational classic "72 Hours of the Blind Girl" is once again presented to the audience in the form of a remake. We have to sigh at the vitality and resilience of this film through time.
Time has passed, but it can still touch the hearts of the current audience. This is the greatest success of any good film production, and it is also where its value lies.
From both a commercial and critical standpoint, this year's "Deadly 24 Hours" is hardly comparable to the original. Its plot is full of inconsistencies, the character settings are detached from reality, and the actors' performances are a bit blunt and contrived.
However, we can't deny the significance of a remake because of these shortcomings. It represents the continued interest and yearning of filmmakers, actors, and audiences in this theme and concept across time and space.
As film critic Roger Ebert put it, "Big movies are great because they never go out of style." "The fact that "72 Hours of the Blind Girl" can still be staged today 29 years later is enough to show that its unique theme and meaning have become a milestone in the history of film, and a classic worthy of being remembered and inherited by future generations.
Therefore, we should not be overly demanding that every remake or remake surpass the original. The popular pop culture and entertainment circles are assimilating all kinds of "classics" every day, which is itself a kind of inheritance of the spirit of predecessors.
We should also see that the dissemination and popularization of classic concepts by these film and television authors and performers is also an important force to promote the accumulation of film and television culture, which is also a very significant and valuable thing in itself.