This week the dads tackle Wilson Yip’s SPL: Kill Zone — part crime thriller, part tragedy, part full-contact martial-arts clinic. Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung and Simon Yam carry a film that’s interested in corruption and consequence as much as it is in breaking bones on camera.
First though: Top Five Dons. Unsurprisingly, this goes everywhere. Corleone, TV Dons, gaming Dons, football Dons, and assorted nonsense all make appearances before the lads finally get to the main event.
Top Five segment highlights:
- Classic mob-boss royalty and the unavoidable Godfather references
- Don characters from prestige TV and old-school comedy
- Curveballs from animation/gaming culture
- A healthy amount of side-questing into football and pop-culture trivia
On the main feature:
- The setup: A terminally ill inspector and his squad target a triad boss after a witness case collapses.
- The tone: Bleak, cynical, and morally compromised from the jump — this is not a clean heroes-villains story.
- The action ramp: The dads note it takes its time, then cashes in hard late.
- The alley fight: Widely discussed as the technical standout (knife vs baton, terrifying pace, almost no wasted movement).
- The finale: Heavy, vicious, and emotionally costly — no easy triumph, no neat bow.
What worked best
- Physical, high-commitment choreography that still holds up
- Sammo Hung as a genuinely intimidating antagonist
- A darker dramatic spine than many equivalent action films
Reservations discussed
- Pacing in the first stretch can feel deliberate-to-slow depending on mood
- Some narrative beats are more functional than elegant
Final verdict:
Strong recommend. If you’re into grimy Hong Kong crime/action hybrids with serious impact, SPL absolutely earns a watch.
You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!
We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com.
Until next time, we remain...
Bad Dads
