Hidden Blade

Hidden Blade (2023) and Harbin (2024) offer a similar mix of historical espionage, political intrigue, and high-stakes deception. While Harbin follows Korean independence operatives in the early 1900s, Hidden Blade unfolds during World War II in Republican era China. Both films feature spies navigating shifting allegiances under colonial rule.
Like Hidden Blade, Harbin embraces a noir aesthetic—moody lighting, shadowy figures, and a constant sense of tension. Woo Min-ho delivers the same level of visual richness and period authenticity, blending stylish cinematography with brutal realism. Both films are anchored by strong lead performances—Tony Leung and Wang Yibo in Hidden Blade, Hyun Bin in Harbin—adding depth to their morally complex characters.
Though independent stories set in different countries and eras, Harbin almost feels like a natural prequel to Hidden Blade, tracing the legacy of resistance and espionage in East Asia.

Both films are spy thrillers set in China during times of political turmoil and foreign occupation. Hidden Blade is set in Republican era Shanghai in the 1930s, while Cliff Walkers is set in the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo in the 1930s. Both films also feature characters operating as undercover agents plagued with moral conflicts and difficult choices. Additionally, both films are characterized by their tense and suspenseful atmosphere, as the characters must navigate dangerous situations while trying to achieve their goals.