Simon Yam certainly looks the part of a psycho killer. He effectively delves right into the character’s emotionless, unstable, and aggressive side, thus nailing at all the psychotic traits. Danny Lee doubles up as Officer Lee beside his directorial duties. But besides those two, all the other actor fails to make an impression. Lee’s police compeers comprise a variety of arrogant officials, each of whom seems to exaggerate their part. On the other hand, Lam’s family members don’t fit well in the moments of neglect or shock.
There are two polar opposites perspectives about Dr. Lamb. First, the film is well shot and cleverly directed with two fairly executed performances. Second, DP Kin-Fai Mau’s skillful camera movements decently showcase the culprit’s perversity and unstably sickening mentality. But then, there is a lack of depth in those ideas, and the film jumbles up the crime thriller elements with those of graphic horror. All this eventually leads to an incomplete assembly of sequences that induce bad taste but no excitement.
“…scenes are disturbing…”
What further diminishes the effects is that the film was inspired by a true story of a serial killer loose in Hong Kong during the 1980s. The film heavily borrows from the real killer’s activities, as well as his characteristics. Despite having a solid base for research, Kam-Fai Law’s script remains on the surface. Plus, the cast and crew fail to add any visually satisfying backdrop to the story. The sequences are scaringly chilling but unraveling the truth remains less impactful.
Dr. Lamb is artistically valuable. The scenes are disturbing, and this take on the Category III narrative is commendable. Plus, the way the filmmakers use nudity to amplify the violently grotesque nature of the story is quite clever. However, it’s still difficult to recommend this as its core intent falls apart and leaves the film to be a vast set of objectionably dreadful sequences. I am sure this will appease the gore fans out there who will take a likening to the cinematography and overall build-up, but there’s no harm in passing on it.
"…Category III rating is equivalent to NC-17 in the States..."
