Mad Fate


Mad Fate is a 2023 Hong Kong mystery thriller film directed by Soi Cheang, produced by Milkyway Image, and stars Gordon Lam, Lokman Yeung, Berg Ng, Ng Wing-sze and Peter Chan. In addition to being the film's director, Cheang also served as a film's executive producer. The film followed a fortune-teller who crosses paths with a young man with a strong desire to commit murder and tries to change the latter's destiny.
Mad Fate made its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on 19 February 2023 as a Berlinale Special. The film also opened the 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival on 30 March 2023 before its theatrical release in Hong Kong on 20 April 2023.

Cast

  • Gordon Lam as The Master, a fortune-teller with an expertise in helping his clients cheat fate.
  • Lokman Yeung as Siu-tung, the son of cha chaan teng owners and has a strong desire to commit murder.
  • Berg Ng as a veteran police inspector hot on Siu-tung's trail.
  • Ng Wing-sze as the Prostitute, a prostitute who seeks help from The Master in order to avoid her fate of dying in an imminent stroke of misfortune.
  • Peter Chan
  • Ko Tin Lung as Siu-tung's father.
  • Wong Ching-yan as a prostitute.
  • Pancy Chan as a policewoman.

Release

Mad Fate made its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on 19 February 2023 as a Berlinale Special. It also made its Asian premier as one of the two opening films at the 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival on 30 March 2023, where director Cheang was also chosen as the Filmmaker In Focus. The film was later theatrically released in Hong Kong on 20 April 2023.
The film was showcased for its North American premiere at the 22nd New York Asian Film Festival in 'Hong Kong Panorama' section on 22 July 2023.

Reception

Box office

Mad Fate topped the box office chart during its opening day in Hong Kong with gross of HK$450,000, beating out The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed HK$370,000 that day. The film finished at No. 3 at the end of its opening weekend, grossing HK$2,962,028 during its first four days of release. The film remained at No. 3 during its second weekend with a gross of HK$3,494,876 while accumulating a total gross of HK$6,456,904 by then. During its third weekend, the film grossed HK$2,306,888, moving down to No. 4, while accumulating a total gross of HK$8,763,792 by then. The film remained at No. 4 on its fourth weekend grossing HK$1,233,621, and have grossed a total of HK$10,000,114 by then. On its fifth weekend, the film moved down to No. 5 with a gross of HK$735,519, while having accumulated a total gross of HK$10,735,733 by then The film moved down to No. 7 in its sixth weekend with a gross of HK$485,970 while having grossed a total of HK$11,221,703 by then. During its seventh weekend, the film came in at No. 9 with a gross of HK$212,081, while accumulating a total gross of HK$11,433,784 so far.

Critical response

Lee Marshall of Screen Daily praises Cheng Siu-keung's cinematography and Lokman Yeung's performance, while noting the film's tonal shifts. Edmund Lee of the South China Morning Post gave the film a score of 3.5/5 stars and praises its inspired premise and screenwriters Yau Nai-hoi and Melvin Li's clever use of coincidences.