Out of Inferno (Chinese: 逃出生天; pinyin: Táo Chūshēng Tiān) is a 2013 Hong Kong-Chinese disaster film directed by the Pang Brothers released on 3 October 2013.[3] Starring Sean Lau, Louis Koo and Angelica Lee, the movie is about a fire that engulfs a high-rise building in southern China and the subsequent rescue mission by the city's fire department.[4][5][6]

Out of Inferno
China poster
Directed byDanny Pang
Oxide Pang
Written bySzeto Kam-Yuen
Produced byDaneil Lam
Danny Pang
Oxide Pang
StarringSean Lau
Louis Koo
Chen Sicheng
Angelica Lee
CinematographyAnthony Pun
Edited byCurran Pang
Music byPeter Kam
Wong Kin-wai
Production
companies
Universe Entertainment
Sun Entertainment Culture
Bona Film Group
Golala Investment
Enable Film Production
Distributed byUniverse Film Distribution
Release dates
  • 30 September 2013 (2013-09-30) (China)
  • 3 October 2013 (2013-10-03) (Hong Kong)
Running time
107 mins
CountriesHong Kong
China
LanguagesCantonese[1]
Mandarin[1]
BudgetHK$150 million (US$19 million)
Box officeUS$24,109,886[2]

Plot

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The film stars two estranged brothers in Guangzhou, Tai-kwan and Keung, who work as firefighters. The last time they spoke with one another was during the funeral of their father, four years before the events of the film. Keung, now retired from firefighting, operates a fire protection systems company. In the beginning of the film, he holds a celebration of the opening of the office of his company. Meanwhile, Tai-kwan's wife, Si-lok, is seeing a gynaecologist. The company and the doctor are in the same building. A fire breaks out in the basement and travels upwards. Tai-kwan, who submits his resignation before the fire breaks out, sends in his unit to fight the fire. Keung finds Si-lok and struggles to rescue her.

Cast

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  • Sean Lau as Tai-kwan (S: 大军, T: 大軍, P: Dàjūn, J: daai6 gwan1)
  • Louis Koo as Keung (S: 阿强, T: 阿強, P: Ā-qiáng)
  • Chen Sicheng as Lee Kin-lok (S: 李健乐, T: 李健樂, P: Lǐ Jiànlè), Si Lok's doctor
  • Angelica Lee as Si-lok (S: 思乐, T: 思樂, P: Sīlè), Tai Kwan's wife
  • Marc Ma as Ho, jewelry store worker
  • Jin Qiaoqiao as Mei-mei (C: 美美, P: Měiměi, J: mei5 mei5), Shun's wife
  • Crystal Lee (李馨巧) as Lam-lam (C: 琳琳, P: Línlín, J: lam4 lam4), Mei-mei and Shun's daughter
  • Zang Jinsheng as Ko Sing, head of security guard
  • Cheung Siu-fai as Shun (C: 阿信, P: Ā-xìn), May May's husband
  • Joe Ma as Lau Ting, head of fire department
  • Natalie Tong as Ping-ping, Keung's fiancé
  • Benz Hui as Boss Suen, owner of the jewelry store
  • Tian Zhenwei as Dong, jewelry store worker
  • Terence Siufay as Bo-keung, security guard
  • Jackie Xu as Mandy, Keung's assistant

Production

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The Pang Brothers went to great lengths to ensure authenticity of the fire scenes, actual fire was used for the majority of the film to bring out the actual visceral fear from the cast.[7] The film had a budget of HK$150 million (US$19 million).[8]

Reception

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Yvonne Teh of the South China Morning Post gave the film three out of five stars. Teh stated that the script "looks a clear case of too many cooks spoiling the broth" and that Szeto Kam-yuen's death had harmed it.[9] Teh stated that the acting of Koo, Lau, and Lee benefited the film and that "the raging fire, which hisses, roars, and moves in ways that resembles a mythical, dragon-like creature at times, is suitably menacing, and ensures that there are scenes in this action thriller that do feel suspenseful."[9] Teh argued that the film is "weakest when the attention is focused on hackneyed minor characters" with the diamond cutter characters being the "lamest of all".[9]

Film Business Asia's Derek Elley gave the film a 7/10 rating.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "OUT OF INFERNO 3 D (2013)". Hong Kong Cinemagic.
  2. ^ "OUT OF INFERNO". Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  3. ^ "逃出生天 3D (Inferno 3D)電影資料". Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  4. ^ "逃出生天 (2013)". Bona Film Group. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  5. ^ "逃出生天3DInferno 3D". Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  6. ^ Tsui, Clarence (11 September 2013). "Out of Inferno 3D (Tao Qu Sheng Tian 3D): Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  7. ^ Chu, Karen. "Pang Brothers Fired Up By Inferno" (PDF). Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  8. ^ a b Derek Elley (20 October 2013). "Out of Inferno 3D". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  9. ^ a b c "Film review: Out of Inferno." South China Morning Post. 3 October 2013. Retrieved on 27 February 2014.
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