Vengeance

After a brutal attack in Macau leaves his daughter's husband and children dead, a French chef vows to make those responsible pay. He moves through neon streets and polished kitchens, assembling three local hit men who work for the city's criminal factions. The plan is cold and direct: locate the killers, uncover who helped them, and inflict punishment. As the threads pull tight, loyalties fray and violence becomes a cleaner currency than apologies. The pursuit tests more than resolve, turning vengeance into a test of character in a world where money buys silence and friends can become enemies in an instant. The pursuit threads together food, crime and a fragile sense of justice. The film balances quiet moments with action.

Released in 2009, Vengeance was directed by Johnnie To with a story by Wai Ka-Fai. The crime drama pairs To's lean, stylish approach with an international cast and a Macau setting that suits its cross border crime mood and pace.

Box office figures for Vengeance are not widely reported, and the film did not become a major commercial hit. It attracted attention mainly from fans of To's crime thrillers and worldwide audiences curious about Johnny Hallyday's cross cultural lead role.

The film stands out for its strange pairing of a French star with Hong Kong actors and its mood drenched in neon Macau nights. Johnny Hallyday plays the grieving, weary chef, supported by Anthony Wong, Gordon Lam and Simon Yam, giving the story a transnational edge that heightens tension throughout.

Critics generally praised the atmosphere and performances, noting a cool, spare tone and moral ambiguity. The themes center on revenge and its costs, loyalty within criminal circles, and how violence reshapes personal and communal bonds. The film's ethical gray area invites debates about justice beyond vengeance for viewers to consider.