Production
The project was first announced on 25 March at the 2015 Hong Kong Filmart as Juno Mak's second directorial feature after the 2013 film, Rigor Mortis . [6] According to Mak, the film's script took over five years to develop. [4]
In June 2017, it was reported that the film has begun production with a budget of HK$150 million and confirmed cast members of Takeshi Kaneshiro, Sean Lau, Louis Koo and Tony Leung Ka-fai [3]
On 25 September 2017, filming of a snowing scene took place outside Windsor House, despite being 30 °C, in which Lau took part in. [7]
On 28 September 2017, the film held its first press conference, where director Mak and cast members Sean Lau, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Gao Yuanyuan and Michelle Wai attended. A two-minute behind-the-scene featurette, the teaser film poster and various character photostills were released. [8] [9] It was also revealed the film crew constructed a 1:1 replica of Causeway Bay in Huizhou for the shooting of the film's large scale opening. [10]
On 27 March 2018, it was reported that production for the film has officially wrapped up after eight months of filming, with another two minute behind-the-scene featurette being released. [11]
By August 2020, it was reported that the budget had ballooned from HK$200 million to HK$400 million, [12] making it the most expensive Hong Kong production to date. [13] [14]
In October 2024, Juno Mak told Variety that the film was in post-production for two years when it was indefinitely paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They only resumed work on the film after the pandemic ended, with Mak attributing the delay to "technical issues, not a rethink of the story". [13]
Release
On 21 March 2018, Juno Mak promoted the film at the 2018 Hong Kong Filmart, where he revealed the film is planned for release in 2019. [4] In 2020, it was reported that the film was expected to be released in 2021. [15] In October 2024, Juno Mak revealed that post-production was nearly complete and that a release was expected for early 2025. [13]
In April 2025, Sons of the Neon Night was selected to be screened out of competition in the Midnight Screenings section at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, [16] [17] where it had its world premiere on 17 May 2025. [18] [19]
Reception
Elizabeth Kerr of Screen International described Sons of the Neon Night as a highly ambitious and "lushly constructed" epic that, despite its "desaturated palette", "post-apocalyptic industrial chic production design", and Juno Mak's efforts to redefine the crime thriller genre, was "hampered by choppy pacing and storytelling", with its ineffective narrative and worldbuilding attributed to the seven-hour rough cut that removed many connections and emotional depths between characters, leading her to suggest it would work better as "an excellent miniseries". [20] Graeme Guttmann of Screen Rant found the film "hyper-stylized", highlighting its "precise editing and light camera work" that creates a composition reminiscent of a music video, but lamented the lack of narrative cohesion, character development, and emotional depth, which makes it difficult for the audience to engage. [21]
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