This 97%-Rated Action Crime Drama Is the Best Jackie Chan Movie in Recent Years

In recent years, Jackie Chan has starred mostly in derivative action movies, making it seem unlikely that the Hong Kong action legend would return to quality cinema.

However, the recently released The Shadow's Edge proves otherwise – this crime thriller not only brings Chan back to his familiar realm of fights and chases but also surprises with its dramatic depth, brutality, and bold genre experimentation.

What Is 'The Shadow's Edge' About?

A gang of thieves breaks into a bank vault and steals the key to a cryptocurrency wallet containing ten billion Hong Kong dollars. While evading the police, the criminals use AI to hide by hacking into law enforcement systems and causing the city's security cameras to malfunction.

The police urgently turn to retired detective Wong Tak-chong for help. He is not a fan of modern technology and prefers to track down criminals the old-fashioned way.

Wong soon realizes that the gang, which is well-versed in neural networks, is led by an experienced gangster with whom Wong has a long-standing score to settle.

'The Shadow's Edge' Seamlessly Transitions Between Genres and Doesn't Shy Away From Violence

The Shadow's Edge opens with an intense twenty-minute action sequence, then, the pace slows and the movie transforms into a spy thriller. Wong Tak-chong assembles a team and teaches police officers who have forgotten how to operate in the field without modern technology the basics of the profession.

The movie seamlessly switches genres – one moment it's a jaw-dropping action thriller with shootouts and explosions, the next, it's a psychological spy thriller set in a confined space.

The Shadow's Edge surprises with an abundance of brutality and violence rarely seen in Chan films. The action scenes operate according to the rules of pure drama – the stakes rise with every passing second, and each subsequent blow packs double the force.

'The Shadow's Edge' Isn't Perfect, but It's a Decent, Solid Action Movie Starring Jackie Chan

The main problem with The Shadow's Edge is its overly complicated plot. In an attempt to make the drama more complicated and the hero and villain equally compelling, the writers veer into soap opera territory.

The main villain's arc is particularly disappointing: intended to be tragic and filled with gray morals, it only adds to the already dense narrative.

Nevertheless, compared to Chan's other recent works, The Shadow's Edge stands out as a highlight in both genre and dramatic style. It's an excellent thriller with spectacular action scenes set in unusual locations and charismatic characters.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Shadow's Edge'?

• The Shadow's Edge has 83% from critics and 97% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.1/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Shadow's Edge scored 3.5/5.0.