Double Tap (film)

Double Tap (槍王) is a 2000 Hong Kong action-thriller film directed by Bruce Law Chi-Leung, and starring Leslie Cheung, Alex Fong Chung-sun, Monica Chan and Ruby Wong. It was hailed as one of Leslie Cheung's most memorable action films since A Better Tomorrow.

Synopsis

Leslie Cheung plays Rick Pang, an IPSC champion who is also a gun expert who tinkers with his pistols and modified its magazine to perfect his technique known as 'double tap' which is the terminology for a shooter placing two shots in the same exact spot, to maximize marksmanship in any competition.

In one of the shooting competitions, he goes up against another experienced top cop who is just as comfortable on the pistols as Rick, named Miu. Unfortunately, the competition was marred by a depressed day trader who threatened the safety of the contest so badly that Rick was forced to kill him with his trademark double tap as the former approaches Colleen and Vincent (the trader was armed). Miu took note of this astounding technique in the post-mortem while Rick's experience from this encounter was strangely exciting to him and he discovers his lust for murdering others in cold blood.

As further murders were committed by an unknown gunman with the similar 'double tap' technique, the list of possible candidates by the police was narrowed down to just a few candidates but Miu was utterly convinced that Rick was also behind all those heinous crimes and hauls him up for investigation. Although Rick was released after an interrogation (having had no solid evidence incriminating him), Miu continued to pursue him and pressurise Rick to an extent that the murderer was suddenly possessed by rage and decided to take the law in his own hands. Rick went to his favorite shooting range and lay in wait for his pursuers. Arming himself with live rounds for his modified pistol, he engaged in a fierce gunfight with the cops and escaped at the first possible opportunity.

It later transpired that Rick was indeed haunted by his earlier murder at the competition but his insatiated lust for murder was further fuelled by his obsession with the 'double tap' technique as he sought to perfect it. Further, he has inadvertently discovered a new use for his pistols: to kill those who opposed him and those who pushed him to the brink.

Cast and roles

• Leslie Cheung - Rick Pang (shooting champion turned rogue by a mentally disturbing shooting accident)
• Alex Fong - Miu (Rick's chief competitor and nemesis)
• Ruby Wong - Colleen (Rick's girlfriend)
• Vincent Kok - Vincent (gun enthusiast)
• Joe Cheung - Joe (shooting competitor)
• Monica Chan - Ellen (Miu's wife who is also a doctor)

External links

• Double Tap at the Internet Movie Database