Year: 1998
Runtime: 92 mins
Language: Cantonese
A blood‑soaked quest for vengeance unfolds in vivid reds and blues. Cat, a contract killer, obsessively tracks his nemesis Wesley. Their confrontation triggers a chaotic chain of events that leaves Cat holding a policewoman hostage. As the unlikely captor and captive develop a fragile bond, Cat must decide whether the relationship will derail his single‑minded plan to kill Wesley.
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Cat (played by Donnie Yen) is a solitary and aimless contract killer who seems to live life on his own terms. Whether it’s a rainy day or a sunny one, he always wears dark sunglasses, adding to his mysterious persona. Every night, he calls into DJ Simon’s radio show, where he openly shares his thoughts and feelings, creating a strange connection with listeners. One of his nightly routines involves looking out his window at his “angel” who lives across from him, with whom he practices slow dancing in his imagination, as if holding onto a fleeting sense of love and companionship amid his dangerous world.
Meanwhile, policewoman Carrie (played by Annie Wu) is also an avid radio listener, often tuning into the same show and paying close attention to Cat’s calls. Her goal is to eventually arrest the elusive killer, but her fascination with him hints at a deeper curiosity. Their paths cross unexpectedly when Cat is en route to meet a contractor, and he notices Carrie waiting for a bus. Curious, he strikes up a conversation with her, and they sit together on the bus. During their brief encounter, Cat hints at future meetings, telling her, “We will meet again.”
When Cat reaches the contractor’s location, he agrees to take on one last job—an assassination assignment targeting Conroy Chan. The contractor warns him that Wesley (played by Jimmy Wong), a former partner of Cat’s from when they were cops in New York, will be guarding the target along with other security personnel. This introduces a complicated history, as Wesley once framed Cat, leading to six years of imprisonment, making their encounter a tense reunion filled with unresolved conflict.
Cat successfully kills Conroy, but Wesley confronts him shortly afterward. A violent shootout ensues, where Cat shoots Wesley multiple times in the chest. However, Wesley survives because of his bulletproof vest and is taken in for police questioning. Wesley claims to have no knowledge of the killer’s identity or motives, which raises suspicions for Carrie, who is piecing together the puzzle. Meanwhile, Cat, in a rare display of vulnerability, attempts to assassinate Wesley using a sniper rifle. However, upon seeing Carrie talking to Wesley, Cat mistakenly believes she might be Wesley’s accomplice or girlfriend and kidnaps her. He keeps her at his house, surprised to learn she has been observing him from across her home and that she is actually a police officer.
Their relationship becomes increasingly complicated when Wesley calls Cat, leading to a tense exchange at a theater. During a chaotic sequence amidst gunfire, Cat passes Carrie a gun, indicating that she has helped him enough and suggesting she can now leave. When Wesley’s men arrive, Carrie helps Cat defend himself, shooting at their assailants with the gun she was given. In a surprising turn, Carrie reveals herself to be the police officer pursuing Cat—the man on the radio all along. Their confrontation turns into a moment of raw emotion, where they argue but also share a tender hug, hinting at a complex connection beyond their roles as cop and criminal.
The narrative takes a darker turn when Wesley captures Carrie’s close friend, demanding that she kill Cat to save her friend’s life. Faced with an impossible choice, Carrie hesitates before deciding not to kill him. Their dilemma is interrupted by a hitman, hired by the same contractor who hired Cat, aiming to eliminate him. Cat kills the hitman in a vicious fight, and in a rare and intimate moment, he and Carrie share a slow dance on a rooftop. During this quiet moment, Cat assures her he will do his best to save her friend before departing, leaving Carrie alone on the rooftop, torn between hope and despair.
Determined to rescue her friend, Carrie rushes to DJ Simon’s office, where she listens to Cat’s final radio call. She tracks down his location, gathering police backup for a confrontation. Meanwhile, Cat manages to kill Wesley and successfully rescues Carrie’s friend. As Carrie enters the building to find Cat, she finds him in critical condition. She evacuates him from the scene, but tragedy strikes—police shooting leads to Cat’s death. The film concludes with Carrie visiting Cat’s grave, her grief evident as she reflects on the mysterious and troubled man who meant so much to her, forever changed by their fleeting connection.
Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:15
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Visually striking violence contrasted with a lonely hero's emotional turmoil.If you liked the mix of brutal, stylish gunplay and profound loneliness in Ballistic Kiss, explore these movies. This thread gathers action thrillers with a heavy emotional core, where the fight scenes are artistically charged and the heroes are driven by more than just revenge.
These stories follow a lone operator, often an assassin or a criminal, whose expertise in violence is a symptom of their isolation. The plot is driven by a personal vendetta or a mission, but the central conflict is an internal one—a struggle with meaning, connection, and a grim past. The action sequences are poetic and intense, but the overall journey is one of tragic reflection.
They are grouped by their unique ability to balance aesthetic, high-intensity action with a somber, character-driven mood. The shared experience is one of cathartic violence underpinned by a sense of fatalism and loneliness, creating a distinct and memorable vibe.
Where captor and captive develop a fragile, transformative connection under duress.Fans of the complex dynamic between Cat and the police officer in Ballistic Kiss will appreciate these films. This collection features stories where a hostage scenario evolves beyond a simple conflict, exploring the fragile human connections that can form in the most desperate circumstances.
The narrative pattern begins with a clear antagonist taking a victim captive. As the situation stretches on, isolation and shared danger force the two characters to interact on a human level. Confessions are made, vulnerabilities are exposed, and a fragile trust develops, creating a moral dilemma for the captor and transforming the captive's perspective. The resolution is often bittersweet, as the bond cannot easily exist outside the context of the crisis.
These films are grouped by their shared focus on the psychological and emotional evolution that occurs between a captor and captive. The central theme is the paradoxical emergence of humanity within an inhuman situation, creating intense, character-driven drama.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Ballistic Kiss in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Ballistic Kiss is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Ballistic Kiss with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Ballistic Kiss. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Ballistic Kiss that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
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