AN EYE FOR AN EYE is part of our Vinegar Syndrome Archive collection, celebrating forgotten cinematic oddities from the video store era. This collection was inspired by our own brick & mortar video stores, with locations in Bridgeport, CT; Aurora, CO and Toronto, ON!
Unique to this line, each hand numbered limited edition release will come fitted in a specially designed, bottom loading VHS inspired slipcase, while also including a double-sided poster.
These releases will ONLY be available on our website and at participating indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them. This slipcase edition (designed by Sean Longmore) is strictly limited to 4,000 units and may (but probably not) be followed by a standard edition in the future.
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Fung is the daughter of an aging Triad boss attempting to turn his criminal enterprise into a more legitimate business. After her father is arrested by her cop boyfriend, Fung is left in charge and continues her father's mission of ridding the organization of its criminal dealings. Meanwhile, some of the other members of the gang are not happy with Fung's leadership and plan a hostile takeover. Cheong, the second in command, wants to maintain the group's violent reign and sets out to strip Fung of her power by viciously assaulting and blackmailing her. Fung's boyfriend vows to take revenge on Cheong and the organization while simultaneously dealing with his jealous partner, who also has eyes for Fung. Tensions soon boil over, and violence erupts in the streets as warring factions attempt to maintain their power.
Heavily censored in Hong Kong upon its initial release, AN EYE FOR AN EYE received a Category III rating, partly thanks to its controversial portrayal of Triad traditions and graphic outbursts of violence. Newly restored from a director-approved studio-supplied master, Vinegar Syndrome Archive is proud to present the director's cut of this gangster opus for the first time on Blu-ray, featuring all its bloodshed intact and culminating in an epic knife fight that literally leaves blood flowing in the streets.
directed by: O Sing Pui starring: Joey Wang, John Ching, Ricky Wong Chun-Tong, Hiu-Hung Fong, Chi Shing Fung, Wilson Lam, Melvin Wong 1990 / 93 min / 1.85:1 / Cantonese Mono
Additional info:
Region Free Blu-ray
Newly restored by VS from a studio-supplied master
Brand new commentary track with Kenneth Brorsson and Phil Gillon of the Podcast on Fire Network
Brand new interview with director O Sing Pui
Brand new interview with action director Benz Kong
"Hong Kong Cinema in the Late ‘80s: Between Heroic Bloodshed and CAT-III Thrillers" - a brand new video essay by film historian and author Samm Deighan
Reversible sleeve artwork
Newly translated English subtitles
Overall rating: 4.508591 / 5 from 291 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
An Eye For An Eye, part of the Vinegar Syndrome Archive collection, is a restored Blu-ray release of a classic Hong Kong action film. Customers praise its engaging story, incredible action scenes, and high-quality packaging. The release includes a new commentary track, interviews, and a visual essay, making it a valuable addition for fans of the genre.
"The movie looks great and comes with decent extras including two interviews and a good video essay about CAT III titles." — Mark P.
"The movie is your standard revenge cat 3 film, picture quality is good, sound is good." — James D.
"The product and package are great and of high quality and value." — Jonathan S.
Reviews
Batter up
"Unfortunately, went into this one thinking Joey Wong was going to kick some ass. The cover art of her w/ the bat only supported this expectation. I kept waiting and waiting and it never came. Even at the end when she finally does haul out the bat, it was disappointing. Sometimes expectations can ruin a good movie. This one has some really cool elements like the use of color, especially blues and reds, in the cinematography. Also, the villain is especially dastardly. I just really wanted to see him get his beat down earlier and more ruthlessly violent. Need to watch this one again minus the expectations."
— chris c. (3/5)
Joey Lang
"Disappointing effort that leans way too hard into melodrama instead of action. The standout, however, is the antagonist; despite not being a trained actor, he easily outshines the rest of the cast, including a lackluster Joey Wang. It’s worth sticking around for the final showdown, though—the restaurant-to-street brawl is a solid nod to the classic HK Cat III era."
— Daniel B. (3/5)
Quality release
"Very fun movie, transfer looks very good. Overall great release"
— Paulo A. (5/5)
A Police Melodrama That Delivers Raw Intensity
"An Eye for an Eye (1990), directed by O Sing-Pui, is a gripping Hong Kong police melodrama that refuses to pull its punches. As action director Benz Kong noted in the included bonus interview, O aimed for an atmosphere thick with unrelenting intensity—where every action triggers a new tragedy. You sense early on that things won’t end well for the protagonists. Still, like them, you crave the villains’ brutal comeuppance and the catharsis it promises. The film delivers that catharsis, but it is followed by a deeply bittersweet ending. Even after defeating the villain, the surviving good characters are utterly consumed by the cumulative tragedy of the events. Victory feels hollow, leaving a lingering melancholy that makes the film far more emotionally complex than a typical revenge tale. Joey Wong shines as Wong Fun-Yee, bringing her signature blend of vulnerability and quiet strength. Lung Fong is equally compelling as Ho Sai-Cheong, and the entire supporting cast delivers strong, committed performances. Lowell Lo Koon-Ting’s moody, effective soundtrack further enhances the film’s intense and sorrowful tone. This is a solid, emotionally charged entry in the late-80s/early-90s Hong Kong crime genre. Here’s hoping VS continues releasing more Joey Wong titles. I’d love to see restored editions of classics like Working Class (1985), Where’s Officer Tuba? (1986), The Ghost Snatchers (1986), A Hearty Response (1986), The Legend of Wisely (1987), Private Life (1987), To Err is Humane (1987), Law or Justice? (1988), My Dream is Yours (1988), Spirit Love (1989), The Reincarnation of Golden Lotus (1989), Missing Man (1989), Web of Deception (1989), Spy Games (1989), Woman from Hong Kong (1990), A Tale from the East (1990), Family Honor (1990), and Killer’s Romance (1990)."
— Pedro G. (5/5)
Fun archive release
"Consistent quality as usual from VSA"
— Oliver H. (5/5)
Fun movie
"I love Hong Kong films and this is another great one to add to the collection. Restoration looks great. Packaging is beautiful."
— Tyler B. (4/5)
Eyefor great looking edition
"This VSA rocks. Looks great and sounds amazing. The limited edition case is clean."
— Benjaman G. (5/5)
Category III Film
"Excellent Hong Kong gangster film with a great video essay and audio commentary."
— Peter D. (5/5)
Tamest CAT III I've Seen, though still pretty f***d up
"A very strange CAT III revenge movie. Lots of it is played for comedy, and its really not very graphic. The subject matter is still heavy so beware of that! Love that interviews are included. Again, I'd been noticing this trend with VS releases (especially Hong Kong ones) no original artwork to be found! Would love to have some original poster material included on the reversable artwork at the very least!"
— Luke M. (3/5)
Cat III fun
"Not as brutal as a lot of other Cat III films but still very enjoyable. Lots of good action with some mellodrama sprinkled throughout."
— Chris F. (5/5)
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