The Viral Factor

The Viral Factor《逆戰》is produced and directed by Director Dante Lam Chiu-Yin  in 2008. The plot development is similar to his previous works, the major characters, Nicholas Tse (謝霆鋒) and Jay Chou (周杰倫) got involved in some matters that might harm lots of innocence civilian, thus a hero has the ability to stop the behavior of villains. The firm was full of shooting and fighting scenes, which not only define an intense action thriller genre, but also identify the shooting style of Dante Lam.

In the previous works of Dante Lam, the boundary of “good” and “bad” is very distinct. He intended to make the audience feel uneasy and heartless about “bad people” motives through dealing with matters by using weapon or violence and visual menace with a scarred face. However, in The Viral Factor, Nicolas Tse was cast as the villain, but also acted as a character to reconstruct characteristics of evil character. The overlapping human qualities shared a new meaning that audience associated with the change in cultural perception. 

For example, a medical specialist Rachel (Lin Peng) forced into the schemes of a criminal organization, Jon Man is a police officer (Jay Chou) attempts rescue and become the target of the organization that includes his estranged brother Man Yang (Nicholas Tse). When the organization betrays Yang and kidnaps his lovely daughter, he cooperates with his younger brother in rescuing his daughter, the medical specialist, and also stopping the criminal organization’s diabolical plans. In this case, you may observe that Dante Lam tends to explore the shifting boundaries on good and bad through the narrative of the characters. It performs multiple human qualities of the character and made each of them real and somewhat relatable. It demonstrates a new meaning and narrative to the audience that this character is not a heartless thriller.

The Viral Factor changed stereotyped perception and attitudes of audience with “bad guy” within media and cultural industries. Audiences no longer base on appearances and physical behaviors to determine the characteristics of character through the narrative of overlapping human qualities by Dante Lam. The change not only creates a new meaning for audiences to redefine evil character in the film, but also changes the collective meaning of “bad guy” – To end a lot of innocent lives when they got involved in a troublesome matter or problem.

Finally, I would like to share my experience after viewing the film. Family estrangement is the primary theme of The Viral Factor. It made me got deeply involved in the moment-to-moment experience of their conflict. Besides, most of the actors mentioned that villains are usually portrayed as being far more intelligent and interesting than the heroes, but the film proved that both characters are likewise more intriguing for audiences.

References:

Hunter,R. (2012). The viral factor 2012. Retrieved from http://movieartbox.com/film/The-Viral-Factor/442209/

Jr Heath, G. (2012, 9 18). A forward-moving, postmodern action extravaganza slows itself down for a marquee moment of pure cinema. Retrieved from http://www.fandor.com/blog/scenes-beast-stalker?utm_medium=spotlight_articles&utm_source=fandor

Marcello, J. (2012). The viral factor movie review. Retrieved from http://www.moviexclusive.com/detail.php?c=118&desc=V&p=1571&t=the-viral-factor-dvd-2012_1571

Li Po Yan, Cathy (10522386/21048983)