Bio-Cops

Director: Steve Cheng Wai Man

Starring: Stephen Fung, Sam Lee, Benny Lai, Frankie Ng, Alice Chan and Hiu Siu Hung

Plot: At an army depot in Texas, scientist Harry (Benny Lai Chun) heads a team working to develop "painless warriors," virtually indestructible soldiers who do not require sleep or food. However, after the formula undergoes an unexpected mutation, one of the green-blooded, zombie-like creatures (Jude Poyer) bites Harry, who then returns to Hong Kong to seek help from his former girlfriend Bell (Alice Chan Wai).

Meanwhile, cop Marco (Stephen Fung) finds the misery of being dumped by his girlfriend (Lilian Chin Wai Ming) heightened first by Brother Cheap (Sam Lee) and then, later, by his flagrantly incompetent superior at work (Hui Shiu-hung). As his body begins to change, Harry is unable to control his urges and goes after a hooker belonging to Hung Hing boss, Brother Kow (Frankie Ng Chi-hung). Upon having his way with the girl, Harry kills her and is attacked by Kow and his men (including the cowardly Cheap). They all end up arrested by Marco and partner Milky (Ronald Wong Pan), who deposit them in the station's lock-up.

Reaching the final stage of transformation, Harry proceeds to bite everyone in his midst, instantly transforming them into "Zombie New Humans," who lay siege to the station. Gun-wielding tough girl Bell (who used to date Harry) and her younger sister, May (Marco's ex), join the fray, in an attempt to put a stop to this plague of zombies before all of Hong Kong becomes infected. While the newly transformed dead can be dealt with, it will take something a lot more powerful to stop Harry, as mere bullets can no longer harm him.

Review: As crazy as the plot sounds this film defiantly delivers on the entertainment front, the strange mix of genres and goofy acting makes this a pretty decent flick. Benny Lai plays the main zombie, I was impressed with his English acting as its crisp and clear, hardly broken at all. Jude Poyer has a small role as the zombie that causes the entire story to happen by biting the lead actor, he was obliviously drafted in because he had to take multiple bullets to the chest and had to react to them convincingly. I almost didn’t recognise him and had to rewind to make sure it was him. Stephen Fung is okay but doesn’t really carry the film as well as he should have, I much preferred him in films such as Gen X Cops and The Avenging Fist. Sam Lee on the other hand was really well cast as the cowardly gangster figure, for most of the film he has to pretend to be a zombie, and at one point his walking dead buddy insists that he has the first bite of a fresh human, obliviously this turns into a funny moment where Sam reluctantly bites into the flesh. I have noticed that Sam Lee often stars in films with “Cops” in the title, Gen X Cops, Beasts Cops and Bio-Cops, he also stars in policeman roles such as the gritty thriller Dog Bite Dog.

The supporting cast is made up by Alice Chan Wai who looks just like Anita Mui, at first I thought it was the pop-queen but soon realised I was mistaken. Lilian Chin is the other leading lady. Ronald Wong plays Stephen Fung’s best friend, this is one of his last screen appearances, he was the emotional student in The Owl Vs Dumbo and he also starred alongside Chow Yun Fat in God Of Gamblers. Hui Siu Hung plays the police chief and can be seen in other films such as; Love Undercover 3 alongside Fiona Sit and Love On The Rocks opposite Gigi Leung. The last notable actor is Frankie Ng who plays the boss of the triads, he is probably best known as a prisoner because of his roles in both Prison On Fire films and Chinese Midnight Express, he is locked up briefly in this film as well.

I haven’t actually seen Bio-Zombie which was made a few years before this and also stars Sam Lee, my guess that is the set up is pretty much the same but in a shopping mall rather than a police station.

The main setting is the police station and its dark, moody look is used effectively. The effects are okay and aren’t to distracting, yet I thought the green blood the zombies leaked out was used too often. The biggest disappointed for me was the ending because it made no sense what so ever and left it wide open for a sequel (obliviously with different actors though).

To sum it up then Bio-Cops is a decent scare and laugh rolled into one, maybe it’s not to everyone’s liking but it’s worth checking out even if it is only for Sam Lee’s goofy performance. Plus its as brainless as the zombies, so kick back, relax and try to enjoy.

Rating: 5.9 out of 10.0