Special ID (2013)
Special ID (2013)Directed by: Clarence Fok
Starring: Donnie Yen, Jing Tian, Andy On, Zhang Hanyu, Collin Chou
Genre: Action / Crime / Martial Arts
Runtime: 99 minutes
Language: Cantonese / Mandarin
OverviewIn Special ID, Donnie Yen stars as undercover cop Chen Zilong, who’s embedded deep within a violent Hong Kong triad. When his mission starts to unravel and his identity risks exposure, Zilong must confront brutal gangsters, corrupt allies, and his own inner conflict — all while protecting his mother and surviving a deadly turf war.
Things escalate when he’s sent to mainland China to bring down his former brother-in-arms turned criminal kingpin, setting off a chain of betrayals and explosive martial arts showdowns.
What Worked
Donnie Yen’s hard-hitting, MMA-style fight choreography — raw, fast, and impactful High-stakes tension from undercover plotline and personal conflict Urban grit: gritty visuals of Hong Kong and Chinese underworlds Strong female presence: Jing Tian as a tough mainland cop adds fire to the duo dynamic Brutal hand-to-hand action with street realism over wire-fu
Fan Reactions
“Classic Donnie Yen — intense, grounded fight scenes.” “Not the most original story, but the action delivers.” “Some uneven pacing, but that final showdown is 
.” “Feels like Infernal Affairs meets Flash Point — with a rough edge.”
Final VerdictSpecial ID isn’t perfect — its narrative can feel familiar and disjointed — but for action fans, it’s a gritty showcase of Donnie Yen’s no-nonsense martial arts. Fast, fierce, and rooted in real-world street combat, it delivers the kind of bone-crunching brawls Yen fans crave.
