Death Notice (film)

Death Notice, previously known as Death Notify, is a 2023 Hong Kong action thriller film directed by Herman Yau and starring Louis Koo, Julian Cheung and Francis Ng. Based on the Chinese novel of the same title by Zhou Haohui, production for the film began in April 2018.

Originally set for theatrical release on 9 December 2021 in Hong Kong, the film's release was first postponed to 31 March 2022 before it was pushed back again to 18 August 2023.

Plot
In Hong Kong, a vigilante serial killer by the name of Darker leaves death notices stating when and how he will murder a victim. Even if the victim reports it to the police and receives protection, Darker can easily break through and execute them.

Ten years ago, Darker orchestrated a mysterious explosion of Mang Wan, the girlfriend of police inspector Law Fei, with the only survivor and witness being Wong Siu-ping, a homeless man who was disabled and his face severely burnt and disfigured as a result. Darker reappears again in the present sending out death notices and executing violent and brutal punishments, challenging the police to a face off with an unimaginable conspiracy behind.

In response, the police set up a special task force led by Chief Superintendent Hon Ho, where Law is also a member of. Hon and Law collaborates with Wong to for further clues, but they are always fail in every operation and cannot save the victims. Law, whose is skilled in observation and analysis, is able to predict Darker's execution plan every time, but is always a step too late. As each execution occurs, Law starts to notice the hidden secrets behind where Darker's true identity is gradually revealed.

Cast

 * Louis Koo as Wong Siu-ping (黃少平), a homeless man who is the sole survivor of an explosion executed by Darker a decade ago and became disabled and disfigured as a result.
 * Julian Cheung as Law Fei (羅飛), a police inspector of the New Territories South region and a prodigy of criminal physiology.
 * Francis Ng as Hon Ho (韓灝), chief superintendent of the Kowloon East region and captain of the special task force.
 * Myolie Wu as Mang Wan (孟芸), Law's girlfriend.
 * Chrissie Chau as Leung Yam (梁音), senior inspector of the Identification Bureau.
 * Charmaine Sheh as Hon Siu-hung (韓少虹), a politician who is one of Darker's murder targets.
 * Simon Yam as Officer Tsang (曾Sir), Deputy Commissioner of Police.
 * Ray Lui as Tang Wah (鄧驊), chairman of Kong Ho Corporation (江河集團) who is one of Darker's murder targets.
 * Philip Keung
 * Danny Chan
 * Timmy Hung
 * Ruby Lam
 * Babyjohn Choi
 * Justin Cheung
 * Raymond Chiu
 * 6-Wing
 * Law Lan
 * Waise Lee
 * Kenny Wong
 * Ben Ng
 * May Law
 * Catherine Chau
 * Cheung Kwok-keung
 * Deno Cheung
 * David Siu
 * Tony Ho

Development
The project was first announced at the 2016 Hong Kong Filmart as a film adaptation of the Chinese novel, Death Notice by Zhou Haohui. The film was slated to begin production during the same year with a budget of ¥100 million (US$16 million) and Philip Yung attached as director. On 6 April of the same year, it was reported that the film will star Aaron Kwok, Louis Koo and Julian Cheung.

News for the project did not surface until Zhao Haohui posted on his Sina Weibo in February 2018 stating a film adaptation of his novel will begin shooting in July of the same year with Koo, Cheung and Francis Ng confirmed to star. The project was later promoted at the 2018 Hong Kong Filmart on 21 March, where it was attended by director Herman Yau, cast members Koo, Ng, Cheung, Chau, Myolie Wu and Justin Cheung.

Filming
Filming for Death Notice began in April 2018. On 16 April at 6:00 AM, filming of a firearm shootout scene took place in an apartment building in Sham Shui Po with cast members Ng, Cheung, Wu and Babyjohn Choi. However, at 11:00 AM, an object at the back stairs of the building caught on fire, and the entire cast and crew, along with residents of the apartment, had to evacuate. Filming resumed at the location 13 minutes after firefighters put out the fire before shooting ended at 6:00PM.

On 2 May 2018, filming took place at the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village, where the film's production start ceremony was also held with director Yau and cast members Koo, Ng, Cheung, Wu, Chrissie Chau, Timmy Hung, 6-Wing, Justin Cheung, Babyjohn Choi and Tony Hung present. There, Koo also revealed that he will be portraying four roles in the film, for which he will be wearing different makeup for each of them that requires four to five hours to put on.

Release
Death Notice was originally set to be theatrically released in Hong Kong on 9 December 2021, but it was later pushed back to 31 March 2022, with "marketing correction" being cited for the reason. However, the film's release was delayed again due to cinema closures amid the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong before setting a new release date of 18 August 2023.

Box office
Death Notice debuted at No. 9 during its opening weekend in Hong Kong, grossing HK$1,457,003 (US$186,018) after its first three days of release and bringing in a total of HK$1,490,503 (US$190,295) including preview screenings. The film moved up to No. 2 in its second weekend grossing HK$2,109,908 (US$269,001), while having grossed a total of HK$3,600,411 (US$459,031) by then. During its third weekend, the film grossed HK$1,224,622 (US$156,101), coming in at No. 6, while accumulating a total gross of HK$4,825,033 (US$615,042) by then. The film dropped to No. 10 in its fourth weekend grossing HK$499,651, while accumulating a total gross of HK$5,324,684 so far.

Critical reception
Edmund Lee of the South China Morning Post gave the film a score of 3/5, praising Louis Koo's performance, the film's dense plot and furious pacing.