The real life case that inspired this movie is quite chilling. It’s probably the reason why, instead of depicting the crime in the usual manner, The Sparring Partner is mostly centered around the court proceedings instead. This approach structures the film in a novel way. Like plenty of other films, the legal drama delves into the killer and his background, but only when it’s relevant to the witness stand, or when he’s talking to his lawyers. The approach also ensures some focus on the killer’s hapless accomplice. What’s interesting is that the film also allots some focus on the jury itself, showing them literally in the scene of the crime as they try to visualize what could have happened. By doing so, The Sparring Partner presents the facts of the case, but it also brilliantly captures the varying mindsets in Hong Kong towards familial duties and accountability through its stand-in jury. As the film judges over the case, it also judges over these mindsets in the face of justice.
"A pulpy and engrossing courtroom thriller."
— Simon Abrams
Adapted from a sensational real-life case in 2013, the intricate story begins when a young man partners with his friend to murder and dismember his parents. Pleading not guilty, the defense attorneys soon turn on each other, as the defendants play the devil and idiot game. Meanwhile, heated debates emerge inside the jury room, where nine jurors grapple with the truth.
Hong Kong, 2015. Nine jurors deliberate over a brutal double parricide committed two years ago. However, while the primary suspect Henry Cheung has confessed to the crime online, the case becomes complicated due to the second defendant Angus Tong, a man with an IQ far below average.
Mak Pui Tung’s performance was pretty impressive.
So yeah, true crime films can still be thrilling without having to glamorize the murderer! Who knew?
