Honestly, the Call of Heroes 2016 movie is a bit of a miracle. It arrived during a period when big-budget Hong Kong-Chinese co-productions were starting to feel a little stale, a little too reliant on CGI, and frankly, a little too safe. But then Benny Chan—rest in peace to a legend—decided to mash together the DNA of a classic Kurosawa samurai flick with the soul of a Spaghetti Western, all while keeping the high-octane wirework and bone-crunching choreography of traditional wuxia. It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s incredibly moralistic. And yet, it works so well because it doesn’t care about being subtle.
You’ve got the 1910s era. The Republic of China is basically falling apart at the seams. Warlords are carving up the map like a Thanksgiving turkey. In the middle of this chaos sits Pucheng, a small town that’s been left unprotected because the local army is off at the front lines. It’s the perfect setup for a disaster, and boy, does the disaster deliver in the form of a psychopathic young commander named Cao Shaolun.
The Plot That Actually Asks a Question
Most action movies are about "killing the bad guy." While the Call of Heroes 2016 movie definitely ends with people getting punched through walls, the core of the film is actually a legal and moral standoff. It’s about the cost of doing the right thing.
When Cao Shaolun, played with absolutely unhinged glee by Louis Koo, wanders into town and casually murders three people—including a child and a teacher—just because he's bored, the local sheriff arrests him. That sheriff is Yang Kenan, played by Sean Lau (Lau Ching-wan). Yang is the kind of guy who carries a weighted whip and believes in the law even when the law is a joke.
The problem? Cao is the son of a massive, terrifying warlord. If the town executes him, the warlord’s army will level Pucheng and kill everyone. If they let him go, they've traded their souls for safety.
It’s a classic "High Noon" scenario. The townspeople, initially supportive of the sheriff, quickly turn into a terrified mob. They start begging Yang to release the killer. It’s uncomfortable to watch because you know, deep down, you’d probably be one of the people screaming for the killer to be freed if it meant your house wouldn't be burned down the next morning.
Sammo Hung’s Action Design is Just Different
We have to talk about the action. If you see Sammo Hung’s name on a credit reel as Action Director, you know what you’re getting. But in the Call of Heroes 2016 movie, he went for something uniquely tactile.
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He used the environment. There’s a specific fight scene involving a bridge made of wine jars that is genuinely one of the most creative things put to film in the last decade. It’s not just about the punches; it’s about the balance, the sound of the ceramic cracking, and the constant threat of falling into the abyss.
Eddie Peng plays Ma Feng, a wandering martial artist who is basically the "Man with No Name." He spends half the movie sleeping on his horse and the other half trying to stay out of trouble. When he finally gets involved, his style is a stark contrast to Sean Lau’s disciplined whip-fighting. Peng is all kinetic energy—loose, fast, and slightly chaotic.
The contrast between the whip and the sword is vital here.
- The whip represents the long reach of justice, but it’s difficult to control in tight spaces.
- The sword, used by the villain’s bodyguard (the incredible Wu Jing), is cold, precise, and lethal.
The showdown between Wu Jing and Eddie Peng is the highlight for most fans. They have a history—they were "brothers" in the same martial arts school—which adds a layer of tragic irony to their fight. It’s not just two guys hitting each other; it’s two different philosophies of life clashing. One chose power and survival; the other chose aimless freedom.
Why Louis Koo’s Villain Works (and Why He’s Terrifying)
Louis Koo usually plays the hero, or at least a suave anti-hero. Here? He is a straight-up monster. There is no tragic backstory for Cao Shaolun. He isn't misunderstood. He’s just a silver-clad brat with a golden pistol who thinks life is a game.
He spends most of the movie in a prison cell, yet he controls the entire plot. He’s eating noodles while people die outside for him. He even tries to hang himself just to see if the guards will let him, knowing they’re too scared of his father to let him die. That’s a level of psychological warfare you don't often see in a "martial arts movie."
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The film leans heavily into the aesthetics of the "Era of Warlords." It’s a dusty, grimy world. The costumes, however, are vibrant. Cao’s stark white and silver outfit makes him look like an alien in the brown, earthy streets of Pucheng. He doesn’t belong there, and he has no intention of respecting the "little people" who live there.
Production Value and the Benny Chan Touch
Benny Chan was a master of the "big" feel. He knew how to make a town feel like a character. The set of Pucheng was built from scratch—a massive undertaking that took months. You can feel that scale. When the army finally arrives, it doesn't look like 50 extras and some clever camera angles. It looks like an inevitable wave of destruction.
The cinematography by Pakie Chan uses a lot of wide shots to emphasize the isolation of the village. You see the mountains surrounding them, reinforcing the idea that no help is coming. They are on their own.
Technical Details You Might Not Know:
- The Whip Training: Sean Lau Ching-wan actually spent months learning how to use the iron whip. It’s an incredibly dangerous prop to use on a busy set because it's unpredictable.
- The Wine Jar Scene: That sequence took weeks to shoot. Every jar had to be reinforced so the actors could stand on them, but they still had to look fragile enough to break on impact.
- The Title: In some territories, it was released as The Deadly Reclaim. A bit generic, right? Call of Heroes fits the theme of "answering the call" much better.
A Flawed Masterpiece?
Is it perfect? No. Sometimes the tone shifts a bit too wildly from slapstick humor (mostly from Eddie Peng’s character) to grim, bloody violence. There’s a scene involving a wooden horse that feels like it belongs in a different movie.
But these quirks are what make Hong Kong cinema what it is. It’s not sterilized like a Marvel movie. It has rough edges. It’s got heart. The Call of Heroes 2016 movie reminds us that "heroism" isn't about being the strongest fighter; it’s about being the one who refuses to move when everyone else tells you to step aside.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re going to sit down with this one, find the original Cantonese or Mandarin audio track. The dubs really kill the performances, especially Wu Jing’s intensity.
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Pay attention to the background characters—the villagers. Their transformation from grateful neighbors to a panicked, selfish mob is the most "human" part of the story. It’s a cynical look at human nature that eventually finds its way back to a hopeful note.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Buffs
- Study the Choreography: Watch the final fight between Wu Jing and Eddie Peng again. Notice how the camera moves with the weapons, not just the actors.
- Historical Context: If you're interested in why the setting matters, look up the "Warlord Era" (1916–1928) in China. It explains the total lawlessness that makes the plot possible.
- Benny Chan’s Legacy: If you liked this, go back and watch Big Bullet or Shaolin (2011). You’ll see the same DNA of strong moral centers clashing with extreme violence.
The Call of Heroes 2016 movie stands as a testament to a type of filmmaking that is becoming rarer. It’s a big-budget spectacle that still feels like it was made by people who love the genre. It doesn't rely on a "cinematic universe." It just tells a solid, self-contained story about a sheriff, a drifter, and a very bad man in a very small town.
To truly appreciate the film, look for the "behind the scenes" footage of Sammo Hung directing the stunts. Seeing a man of his age and stature move with that kind of precision explains why the action in this movie feels so much more "real" than your average blockbuster. The impact of the hits, the timing of the falls—it’s a masterclass in physical storytelling.
When you finish the movie, you aren't just thinking about the fights. You're thinking about that central question: What would you do if doing the right thing meant losing everything? That’s why it sticks with you.
Next Steps for the Viewer:
- Check streaming platforms: Currently, it's often available on martial-arts-heavy services like Hi-YAH! or for rent on major digital stores.
- Compare the Styles: Watch a classic Shaw Brothers film like The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and then re-watch Call of Heroes. You'll see exactly how Sammo Hung modernized traditional shapes for a 21st-century audience.
- Explore the Cast: Look into Wu Jing’s other work, specifically Wolf Warrior 2, to see his transition from a martial arts antagonist to one of the biggest box-office stars in the world.