Split Second Murders

Herman Yau continues his solid filmmaking streak with the surprising low-budget thriller-comedy Split Second Murders. Novelist and screenwriter Erica Li (Stephen Chow's King of Comedy, among others) penned the story, a largely unremarkable tale about life changing decisions, unexpected consequences, and what happens when a bunch of people get way too angry. The film stumbles when trying to establish meaning, but it's Yau's expert, straight-faced direction that sells the jokes and situations, and helps to make the inexperienced idol cast into something resembling a practiced ensemble. Lives won't change, but Split Second Murders is far better than one would expect.