Fast-moving wuxia set during the Song dynasty, ‘The Butcher’s Blade’ sees beleaguered constable Buyi (Liu Fengchao) forced to stand up for himself when he’s used as a scapegoat for some stolen funds meant to aid the relief of a disaster-stricken town he was meant to be guarding. Determined to clear his name and find the real culprit, Buyi turns to his former teacher (Chunyu Shanshan) and fellow constable (Yuan Fufu) to help him track down the thieves. But who can Buyi really trust as alliances are threatened and, as the deeper he digs, the wider the corruption seems to spread?

A fairly no-frills, straightforward wuxia procedural is elevated thanks to a dark and gritty vibe and a good amount of barnstorming action. Set in a small, isolated town that’s been devastated by severe weather and mostly set in the nocturnal hours, ‘The Butcher’s Blade’ is a dark and gritty tale of corruption and what an honourable constable must endure to make sure justice is upheld and he remains alive.

Taking itself just serious enough without ever slipping into overt dourness, the film has little levity but zips along via a slick pace and fast action. Liu Fengchao is great as the put-upon constable, struggling to outrun the corruption that surrounds him and the cowardly course his life has taken because of it. His need to always do-the-right-thing while trying to earn the respect of his possibly corrupt peers gives the film a welcome character arc for the protagonist, along with all the superior fight action.

Liu Fengchao is also a very gifted fighter and gets to show his skills in a surfeit of impressive wuxia-based fight scenes. Despite clocking in at about 80 minutes (sans credits), ‘The Butcher’s Blade’ packs in a lot of action. Fluid, wire-enhanced and featuring crisp choreography, the fights are copious and often exhilarating. Highlights include a scrap where a waterlogged sheet is used as a weapon and a confined scuffle in a fireworks factory where a blade-tipped rope sets them off as Buyi and his antagonist fight. The action is rollicking stuff and adds momentum to the film, meaning proceedings often fly by.

The serious tone and some surprisingly gory moments may put some off and the light narrative may irk those looking for something a bit more complex (though there are a few unexpected turns in the tale!). However, if you’re looking for a wuxia fix that rattles along, is slickly shot, and delivers spades of well-designed action then ‘The Butcher’s Blade’ has got you covered.