This film is notorious for a scene involving a pineapple bun (you will never eat one again) and a level of misanthropy that is almost comical. It answers the question: "What if a slasher villain had an airborne super-virus?" The racism, sexual violence, and biological horror push it to the extreme edge of the rating. Director: Lam Nai-choi Starring: Fan Siu-wong
While technically a Category III due to cartoonish, over-the-top gore, Riki-Oh is a cult classic worldwide. Set in a privatized prison in 2001, a superhuman prisoner fights corrupt guards.
If you can handle only one film from this hong kong cat 3 movie list top , start with Riki-Oh . It is violent, but it is fun. If you want to lose your faith in humanity, watch The Untold Story .
Unlike the realistic horror of Ebola Syndrome , Riki-Oh is a live-action manga. People get punched through the stomach, sliced in half vertically, and their entrails used as rope. It is hilarious, absurd, and relentlessly violent. For many Western fans, this was their first Cat III movie via bootleg VHS. Director: Danny Lee / Billy Tang Starring: Simon Yam
The infamous sequence involves photographing corpses with Polaroids and preserving body parts. It is a grim, rainy, nihilistic film. Simon Yam reportedly felt so dirty after making this that he refused to do another Cat III film for years. Note: Often confused with #1, this is the direct "Category III" version. Actually, the true Cat III classic is Herman Yau’s version listed at #1. However, be aware there is a 1993 film called The Untold Story 2 (aka Human Lamp Shade ), which is arguably even more depraved but lower budget. Stick to the original 1993 release. 6. Naked Poison (2000) – The Softcore Exploiter Director: Wilson Yip (Yes, the Ip Man director!) Starring: Jason Chu
Viewer discretion is strongly advised. These films contain scenes of real animal cruelty (specifically in Dr. Lamb and Ebola Syndrome) and non-simulated violence that may violate modern ethical standards.
Why it is #1: Anthony Wong won a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor for this role—the only time a Cat III performance has been recognized. The film features a graphic rape scene, bone-sawing sequences, and a finale involving a blender that is impossible to unsee. It is the gold standard of the genre. Director: Herman Yau Starring: Anthony Wong
This is the film that launched the late-90s/early-2000s revival of Cat III as softcore erotic thrillers. Naked Poison features a man who develops a chemical agent that makes people lose their inhibitions. It is softcore sex wrapped in a "thriller" plot.