Love Massacre

Set in San Francisco, Love Massacre (1981) follows college student Ivy (Brigitte Lin) as she tries to help her friend Joy (Tina Liu), who is depressed and delirious after a breakup. Ivy soon becomes inadvertently involved with Joy’s brother Chu Chung (Chang Kuo-Chu), but it is later revealed that he is married. Suffering from a hereditary mental illness, Chung eventually spirals into violence as he breaks into Ivy’s dormitory and goes on a killing spree.

Shifting across genres―from drama and romance to thriller and slasher―director Patrick Tam blends elements of European arthouse films and American thrillers in this visually striking yet unsettling gem of the Hong Kong New Wave. The screenplay was written by Joyce Chan, Tam’s long-term collaborator in television. 

This was Tam’s first film that showcased the modern sensibility he developed during his years in television. The film redefined Brigitte Lin’s image as the golden girl of Taiwanese romantic drama. It marked a new phase of her career in Hong Kong cinema. Love Massacre is most notable for its use of bold colours to express emotions on screen. Although its initial box office performance and critical reception were average, it has since earned its recognition as a pioneering work of New Wave cinema. It also marked the debut of William Chang as an art director, and his striking contributions elevated the role.

Love Massacre is one of the films under M+ Restored, an initiative supported by M+’s major partner CHANEL. Images courtesy of M+. 

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Hong Kong Cinema Showcase

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