Bullet in the Head

A loyal, hopeful friend whose sense of duty keeps him bound to the group. He navigates escalation with a stubborn moral core, but endures a painful arc of violence, loss, and a personal quest for redemption. By the end, he returns to Hong Kong with Jane, bearing scars and a limp, and confronts the consequences of his friends’ choices.

The calculating pragmatist, driven by money and status. He pursues wealth with cold detachment, manipulating events and abandoning loyalty when it suits him. His actions propel the trio toward disaster, and despite superficial success, he meets a violent end in a street chase.

The hot-headed friend whose impulses plunge the group into danger. He endures brutal trials in captivity, becomes a heroin-addicted contract killer after a head injury, and is ultimately killed by Ben, a testament to the cost of the journey’s violence.

Ben’s fiancée who eventually bears their child. She represents a personal stake and a return to normal life after the chaos, serving as a reminder of the life they sought to protect. Her presence anchors Ben amid the tide of violence and revenge.

A calculating hitman for Leong who dreams of escape and balance between crime and humanity. He helps the group navigate danger, aids in a chaotic rescue, and emerges scarred from the conflicts, representing a pragmatic-if-torn moral compass.

A nightclub singer coerced by Leong, whose fate underscores the war’s collateral damage. Her death during the climactic conflict deepens the tragedy and drives the survivors toward a more desperate resolve.

Leader of a rival gang whose conflict with Ben’s circle sparks the violent chain of events. His murder is a pivotal turning point, intensifying the blood feud that threads through the story.

A Vietcong force that encapsulates the war’s threat, capturing the trio and playing a brutal role in their suffering. Their presence and actions catalyze the film’s darkest sequences and test the characters’ endurance.