Most people think Cat 3 ratings are just awarded to adult porn movies.This is a common misconception as Cat 3 is the equivalent to our 18 and over rating,so applies to any movie which is deemed too horrific for the younger viewer.Here I have made a list of some of Hong Kong's most notorious flicks which still hold a power over their viewer to this day.From the infamous Untold Story to the naked Kung Fu scene in Corey Yuen's Women on the Run,this list is designed to give you an idea as to what infamous films you should have in your Hong Kong collection.

Killer Snakes

this 1970's Shaw Brothers horror still shocks too this day.A little too nasty for me but that's because the snakes used in the film were certainly not special effects and so I suggest if you are an animal lover you stay away as the movie is very cruel.

The notority killer snakes gained was not through it's horror but mainly due to it's nasty sexual nature.Many of the scenes have only just been re-instated in the remastered edition from celestial pictures.To this day killer snakes is still banned in many countries,and an uncut version is rare to find outside of Asia.

Killer snakes follows the tale of a mentally unbalanced young man who helps a injured snake back to health and names it little Piao.The cobra brings more slithery friends for the man to heal and together help him exact vengeance on a gang that have done him wrong.

The movie focuses a lot on the sex fantasies of the disturbed character and the various ways that the women in particular meet their demise,including one scene involving a prostitute being pleasured by a snake.

So does killer snakes deserve it's notority?In my opinion yes it deserves it but for all the wrong reasons,It's infamy certainly does not arise from it's horror roots but instead from it's sexual content which by today's standard would be considered tame.However it is the way in which the director has presented the movie that still manages to make it hold it's own to this day.

Run and Kill

A little known thriller outside of Hong Kong,this classic tells the tale of a business man(Kent Cheng)who thinks he has it all,until one day he returns home to find his wife in bed with another man.Angry and depressed he goes and drowns his sorrow in a bottle.After becoming intoxicated he somehow hires a hitman to kill his cheating wife and her lover,upon realising this he rushes home but is too late,he agrees to help the police catch the gang and in doing so causes them to come looking for him.Kent heads to mainland China and runs into a vietnamese mercenary team headed by everyone's favourite over the top but incredibly charismatic lead,Simon Yam.The younger brother agrees to help Kent against his brother's wishes and when it all goes wrong and the young boy dies,Simon Yam comes looking for revenge and this is where the main shocking story enters.

Extremely compelling viewing once Simon Yam gets nasty.Run and Kill is no longer the small time low budget thiller it starts of as,but instead a twisted and sadastic little piece of cinema,all made possible by Mr Yam's excellent psychopath turn.

So Exactly what makes it infamous,I hear you ask?.Well there is one scene where.....I can't tell you,it would spoil the whole shock.But I can tell you that it's a case of 'there is no way he's gonna do it,He won't kill her'In which case if this was a hollywood movie we would be right.However my dear readers we are not in Kansas anymore and Dorothy is about to get fried!!

Although low on budget there are some great effects,such as the scene where Simon Yam pulls out a shard of glass from his chiselled cheek to reveal a small little waterfall of blood.The direction of the film is very classy and some shots can rival even Tarantino in style and execution.

The Untold Story

Probably the most well known in this list.The Untold Story is based on a genuine case from the 80's about  Sweeny Todd copycat Wong who served delicious steaming pork buns that had their very own special ingredients!

Wong is superbly played by Anthony Wong,Infact he is so precise that his portrayal makes you believe what you are watching is a documentary.You will truly believe that you are seeing the real Wong.

So what makes it the most infamous Cat 3 horror ever....Well for one it is the penultimate scene of the    first killing  Wong commited involving a whole family which is so graphic and shocking in it's portrayal that you will be covering your mouth to stop your stomach from emptying it's lining.Yes we can all cope with adults and annoying teens being slain,but when it is four innocent children and the way in which they are dispatched really sends shivers to every hair on your body.Another scene and probably more painful to view(especially if you are a women,which is probably why I again had my hand covering my mouth)is the rape and death scene of Wong's co-worker who he believes has talked to the police.This scene is very well filmed(not comically filmed like in Women on the Run and not made for sexual pleasure like in Killer Snakes).No,this scene will have men and women speechless in it's cruelty and precision acting and both Anthony Wong and his co-star in this role deserved the praise they received.

A lot of people argue that there was no need for the bungling cops that are investigating the case,but I think they were added to just give you a slight rest from the shocks and 'I can't believe this is happening..' expression that will be attached to your face.The untold Story is a must see film.

Women on the Run

Corey Yuen's most famous Exploitation flick about a female cop and a prostitute who go on the run after being set up by a corrupt police officer.

This high kicking martial arts flick features some excellent fight scenes which have unfortunately been overshadowed by the infamous naked martial arts battle and an almost comic style rape scene which is probably the downfall of an otherwise good hong kong action movie.

Women on the Run certainly does it's job of exploitating the two stars assets in every way possible and it's quite a surprise to see Corey Yuen directing such as movie.

In the end a perfectly good story and some great action has become overshadowed by the exploitation.Yes Women on The Run does deserve it's infamy,because when all is said and done,it was never supposed to be a Jet Li or Jackie Chan action,It was simply for a fun night in and mainly focused for a male orientated viewing,Which is a shame because let's face it,us women like a good fighting femme fatale to give us inspiration too.

Dr Lamb

Simon Yam yet again star in another Cat 3 about  a disturbed young man who has a fasination with the female body....once it's in pieces.

Yam stars as Lamb who from the onset of the movie where we see him as a child is obviously intimidated by the female form.One night when he gives a prostitute a lift in his cab,she suddenly causes him to go into a rage(like a full moon and a wolf)and he strangles her....So far,so typical,so why the Cat 3 rating.Well from his cab he takes her back to his house and after an act of near necrophilia he decides the best way to dispose of her body is to dismemeber it.Here is where the Cat 3 rating comes into play as it is particularly graphic and gory.In one particular scene when the police investigate the house they pick up(well it falls on them) something slippery,jelly like and altogether gross.Which turns out to be a breast.

Did I like Dr Lamb..No.There is not much in the way of substance but maybe this was not it's aim.Is it gory?...hell yeah,Does it shock?...well it has sleeping with the dead as a penultimate scene so yes it pretty much does it's Cat 3 job.

So thankyou for taking the time to read my review on the Cat 3.Some of you are probably wondering why Bamboo House of Dolls is not included,well simply put it surprisingly got given a Cat 2b rating only.This list I have done is only a few of many Hong Kong shockers that have been made over the years and I am sorry if I missed out your personal favourite.

I will be writing more reviews based around the orient film market and hope they will help in your decision in choosing a movie.

Naomi(riverbrook282)