As Serena and Heri work together to catch the killer, their inquiries lead them to industrialist/kingpin Datuk Ishak Hassan (Wan Hanafi Su), whose prominent family and known associates all have some connection to the victims.
Seeking answers, Heri finds a way to insert himself into the Malaysian investigation.
Meanwhile, in Jakarta, for ICD Lieutenant Heriyanto Salim (Ario Bayu), the case turns personal when his brother is found murdered in similar circumstances. Called in to investigate, Singaporean International Crimes Division (ICD) officer Serena Teo (Rebecca Lim) takes charge of a case across the border where a family has been slaughtered aboard a luxury yacht in Johor. One would have hoped that with the large budget some credible looking armour, helmets, etc could have been used for the close-ups.A series of brutal murders, each sharing a signature MO, takes place across Malaysia and Indonesia. In comparison to the other, excellent costumes, the contrast is glaring. Insult is added to injury here when, despite the huge budget, the military costumes used cheap plastic. Things get quite RIDICULOUS in this area and one is thankful when the combat scenes end and the intrigue starts up again. These are poorly done in terms of realism and contain the inevitable skilled-warrior-as-super-hero scenes that plague so many Chinese productions. Credulity is further strained in the inevitable combat scenes. There is no need to mess around with it to get a marketable and dramatic story. They could have stayed closer to history, placing more time and emphasis on her later life and produced a far more satisfying and true story. Given the reliance on fiction, it is small wonder that the story becomes disjointed, almost incoherent at times. The life of characters around her are also twisted around to the point that history and pure fiction are ruthlessly mixed to an absurd point. Events are altered or simply invented which have her literally all over the place and in an overly sympathetic light. There is little need to expand and fictionalize it. Her life was interesting, dramatic, scandalous and unique as it was. The problem starts with the main character. Unfortunately, it doesn't turn out that way. With this good foundation, you could be hopeful for a good presentation of the life of Wu Zeitan/ Wu Mei Niang. The acting is good, the actors seem committed to their characters. The slow pacing, in principle, allows the story to proceed unhurried and in detail.
The large budget can be seen in dazzling.
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