Special ID, directed by Clarence Fok, is a gritty Hong Kong action thriller that puts Donnie Yen back in the undercover cop role — and back in full martial arts beast mode. The film follows Chen Zilong, an undercover officer embedded in a violent crime syndicate, whose mission becomes more dangerous when loyalties blur and his cover begins to unravel.

Donnie Yen plays a tough, street-smart cop who must balance his loyalty to the force with his bonds to the criminal world he’s infiltrated. When a new, ruthless gang leader (played by Andy On) rises, Zilong is forced to act before everything he’s built — and his life — is destroyed.

The plot of Special ID is fairly familiar for fans of crime thrillers — undercover cop, internal conflict, explosive betrayal — but what sets it apart is its relentless fight choreography. Donnie Yen combines MMA-inspired takedowns, traditional martial arts, and street brawling into brutal, fast-paced fight scenes that are raw and intense. One-on-one fights in the film are the highlight, particularly the climactic showdown between Yen and On.

On the downside, the storytelling can feel disjointed at times, and character development is thin. The emotional beats don’t always land, and the pacing occasionally suffers in the quieter moments. However, Yen’s charisma and physicality carry the film through.

While not as polished as Flash Point or as emotional as Ip Man, Special ID delivers the kind of no-nonsense, bone-cracking action that martial arts fans expect — and that Donnie Yen excels