The Shadow's Edge [Movie Review]

The Shadow's Edge [Movie Review] | I’d planned to catch this in cinemas, but work completely took over and I missed the chance.

With Jackie Chan and Tony Leung in the cast, though, watching it was never really optional.

SYNOPSIS

The Shadow's Edge (2025) Trivia

• Simplified Chinese: 捕風追影
• Starring: Jackie Chan, Zhang Zifeng, Tony Leung Ka-fai & Ci Sha
• Director: Larry Yang
• Producer: Victoria Hon & Zhang Chao
• Production Company: Hairun Pictures & iQIYI Pictures
• Distributed by: Tao Piao Piao & Edko Films
• Release date: September 11, 2025
• Running time: 142 minutes
• Rating: MA
• Country: China & Hong Kong
• Language: Mandarin
• IMDb: 7.1/ 10
• Tomatometer: 80%
• Metascore: NA
• Of the two leads and five villain co-leads, Tony Ka Fai Leung was the only one without a martial arts background, which was a key casting requirement for the others. 
• Although most of the scenes featured Macau, most of the shooting takes place in studios.

The movie starts with a group four gentlemen performing a heist. Everything was going according to their plan. 

On the other side, the police are monitoring their movement quietly, via an AI system know as S.P.A.I.S. 

The crew is led by the elusive Shadow. They move with surgical precision, ghosting through a high-security bank vault and slipping away without a trace. Shadow, later revealed as former intelligence officer Fu Lang-seng, commands quiet authority. At his side are his five adoptive sons, each playing a role in a tightly choreographed operation. Xi Wang calls the shots, Xi Meng bends code to his will and Hu Feng handles anything that requires brute force. Their prize is not gold or diamonds, but a notebook containing the encryption key to a billionaire’s cryptocurrency wallet.

The police quickly connect the dots. The next target is a digital asset firm perched within Macau Tower. 

The heist was going as planned until the crew discovers HK$1.5 billion in cryptocurrency sitting in the same virtual vault. Despite Shadow's disapproval, they take it all. Knowing that their exits are all blocked now, they are forced to leap from the Tower, they parachute into Wynn Macau, vanishing into the crowd in a swirl of disguises. Somehow, a barista’s accidental snapshot captures Fu’s face.

With no solid leads, the authorities bring retired surveillance veteran Wong Tak-chong back into the fold. He trusts instincts over algorithms and assembles a team that includes He Qiuguo, a young officer who blames him for her father’s death during a past operation. What happened was her father died after Wong broke cover to save a civilian. Qiuguo starts opening up to Wong. 

Fu’s grip tightens as his sons defy him, creating friction within the group. When he realizes his cover is blown, he goes underground. Wong’s team tracks him to a market, with Qioguo tailing him until Wong steps in, posing as her father to ease suspicion. A tense dinner at a police-safe apartment turns into a quiet standoff, and Qioguo learns Wong has been watching over her for years. That night, a failed hit attempt confirms their cover is compromised.

Soon after, Wong’s convoy is ambushed but survives. Xi Meng then lures Fu to an orphanage where hired killers wait. Fu fights his way out. In a final act of loyalty, Xi Wang stalls him and orders an explosion, sacrificing himself. Fu survives and is arrested.

Believing the remaining sons will escape through Wynn Palace shipments, police tighten security. Fu escapes during transport, sparking another clash. Near Cotai East station, he fatally stabs a policeman and Xi Meng. With his last breath, Xi Meng reveals the twelve-word crypto passphrase. The remaining brothers are captured, bringing the operation to its brutal end.

Will the police finally expose Shadow and leave him with nowhere left to run?

MY REVIEW

What I Like:  

• Amazing action from the get go. 
• The heist and the plot are beautifully carried out. Loved it!
• Can I have the sequel?

What I Don't Like:

• Can I say none? 

Will I Watch It Again: Sure, I don't mind watching it again.

Overall: 4.7/ 5.0

The pictures are taken from multiple sources on the Internet. Thank you.

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