The film had its world premiere at the Midnight Screenings section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 2025, and will be theatrically released in Hong Kong on 1 October 2025.
Plot
A sudden explosion erupts in snowbound Causeway Bay, killing a wealthy Hong Kong businessman and igniting a fierce conflict between drug traffickers and those who oppose them. An investigation reveals that the chaos was part of a meticulously planned, unhinged series of actions orchestrated by the heir of a drug trafficking syndicate. Declaring war with the mission to create "a world without drugs" and change his family's legacy, his actions plunge both the world above and the underworld below into utter turmoil.
Cast
Takeshi Kaneshiro as Lee Mo-tung (李霧童), an heir to a major financial company hoping to wipe out the dark history of his family
Sean Lau as Wong Chi-tat, (王志達) a double-faced police officer
Tony Leung Ka-fai as Dik Man-kit (狄文傑), a psychologist serving for the police force
Louis Koo as Ching Man-sing (程文星), a killer with a complicated past
Gao Yuanyuan as Lau Sze-yan (劉思欣), a retired therapist
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]
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] The film is set to be theatrically released in Hong Kong on 1 October 2025.[20]
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".[21] 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.[22]
Huang, Cathy (12 May 2025). "【2025康城影展】最具看點的5部亞洲電影：麥浚龍《風林火山》即將首映、小松菜奈首次踏上康城紅地氈". Tatler. Retrieved 17 May 2025. 香港導演麥浚龍的最新力量作《風林火山》成功入選第77屆坎城影展「午夜展映」單元，成為本屆該單元唯一獲選的香港電影。[Hong Kong director Juno Mak's latest work Sons of the Neon Night has successfully been selected for the "Midnight Screenings" section of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, becoming the only Hong Kong film chosen for this section.]
Hui, Yuk-man (17 May 2025). "風林火山｜康城影展首波影評一面倒 畫面破格精彩但故事難以理解". HK01. Retrieved 17 May 2025. 讓影迷苦候多年的香港電影《風林火山》，終於在今日（17日）凌晨時分，於《第78屆康城電影節》午夜展映單元舉行世界首映[After years of anticipation, the Hong Kong film Sons of the Neon Night finally had its world premiere today (17th) at the midnight screenings of the 78th Cannes Film Festival.]
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