Plot
Kowloon Walled City is a densely populated, anarchic enclave in Hong Kong. It is also a hotbed of criminal activity controlled by gang leader Lui Chen-tung and his enforcer, Jim “King of Killers” Chan until an alliance of gangs led by the formidable martial arts master Cyclone deposed Lui and killed Jim, bringing a kind of peace to the walled city.
Years later, in the mid-1980s, refugee Chan Lok-kwan lives a downtrodden existence in Hong Kong’s periphery, working odd jobs and competing in illegal pit fights arranged by a powerful crime lord, Mr. Big. After Mr. Big swindles Chan, Chan desperately steals a bag of drugs from Mr. Big and flees Mr. Big’s henchmen, led by the sadistic and seemingly invincible King.
Chan narrowly escapes by entering the walled city, which is protected by Cyclone, whose skill and authority deter even the local triads from entering lightly. However, when Chan tries to sell his stolen drugs within the walled city, Cyclone’s gang members angrily intervene. After an initial brawl, Cyclone subdues Chan and takes pity on his wretched state, offering him a place to stay.
Chan begins working various jobs within Kowloon Walled City’s dense urban maze of illegal workshops and businesses. But Chan soon fits in, befriending Cyclone’s lieutenants Shin, AV, and Twelfth Master, a lieutenant of the Temple Street Gang. Together, Chan, Shin, AV, and Twelfth Master become known as the Kowloon 4.
Meanwhile, Dik Chau, the walled city’s biggest landlord and a high-ranking triad member, calls a meeting with Cyclone and Tiger, leader of the Temple Street Gang. All three are long-time allies, going back to when they united to depose Lui Chen-tung and kill Jim. Unbeknownst to Chau and Tiger, Cyclone and Jim had struck an unlikely friendship, and even though Cyclone killed Jim, he also helped Jim’s wife flee Hong Kong with her newborn son. Chau, however, swore an oath to destroy Jim’s family to avenge the loss of his own, whom Jim murdered. Now, at long last, Chau announces he has discovered Jim’s son, who turns out to be Chan.
The Kowloon 4 try to hustle Chan safely out of the walled city, before Chau and Tiger’s gangs try to kill him, but they are too late. A fierce brawl erupts, in which Cyclone does not take part, and Chan narrowly defends himself against Chau and Tiger.
Feeling betrayed by Cyclone, Chau seeks Mr. Big’s help to kill Chan. Mr. Big’s gang assaults the walled city, and in the mayhem that follows, King kills the ailing Cyclone while other residents of the walled city also perish in the fighting. All members of the Kowloon 4 suffer dire wounds while evacuating Chan from the walled city.
King kills Mr. Big and imprisons Chau, ruling the walled city tyrannically until Chan recovers and returns to challenge him. With the timely aid of the Kowloon 4, Chan defeats King’s gang and after a protracted battle, King himself. Shin delivers the killing blow to avenge his old master Cyclone.
Afterwards, the Kowloon 4 look out over Hong Kong and note that while the city constantly changes, their friendship never will.
