A predictably seedy, crime-ridden premise, Nightfall follows hard-boozing detective Lam (Simon Yam), on the trail of a decades old vendetta enacted by mute ex-convict Wang (Nick Cheung). The latter`s release from prison makes him the prime suspect in the murder of acclaimed tenor Han Tsui (Michael Wong), as the ex-con stalks the celebrity`s daughter Zoe (Janice Man) for ambiguous reasons to be unveiled.
While solidly crafted in terms of visuals, Nightfall is plagued by its slavish adherence to the cliches of the noir genre. The film is replete with predictable plot twists, typically muted colour tones, and – to top it all off – a sinisterly classical score, with Chopin`s Nocturne being shanghai-ed to add ambience to the film.
That being said, the film`s plot developments are engaging despite their predictability, thanks largely to the acting chops of veteran actors Cheung and Yam. Michael Wong`s thankfully limited screen time sees him hamming it up as a borderline obsessive father figure, and Janice Man, while easy on the eyes, seems almost bored in her two-dimensional role as his meek, piano-playing daughter.
Subpar CGI and patchy performances notwithstanding, Nightfall is a thriller that will likely satisfy audiences looking to while away their evening with a noir-laced number.
Summary: Whodunit? Elementary, my dear Watsonâ€