modmax
I bought the DVD in a shop in Bui Vein during an afternoon spent looking for some Vietnamese movie; except some co-production I couldn't find anything. Anyway this is an American-Vietnamese co-production following the success that Asian horrors had in western countries in the last years. It can be divided into three different parts. In the first: a writer arrives in a house where a girl seems to live alone, he falls in love with the girl but discovers she's a ghost. In the second: he's sick, shocked by his experience, but with the help of his nurse, he will win the sickness, write his story and became a successful writer; then he will marry the nurse. In the third: the house of the couple is haunted and a false diviner is called in help, she has a scaring meeting with the ghost but her son not believe her until he will discover the terrible truth about the writer. I don't know how it's possible make a Vietnamese low budget movie with American money but this is a low budget with no special effects and few changing of locations. Anyway the photography is good and the director can manage to carry on the plot. Not for gore-horror fans, but for those who like ghost stories.
Claudio Carvalho
1) "The Visitor": The drifter writer Tran Thanh Loc (Tuan Cuong) arrives in an old house and is lodged by the gorgeous Hoa (Kathy Nguyen). Along the days, he falls in love for her and discloses the truth about the hostess. 2) "Only Child": Loc is sick, totally disconnected of the world, but his nurse Linh (Kathleen Luong) heals him. He writes the best-seller The Visitor about his relationship with Hoa and becomes a successful writer. He proposes and marries Linh, but when he decides to have a baby, Linh is haunted by her hidden obscure past. 3) "The Diviner": Linh's parents send the fraudulent diviner Lan (Catherine Ai) to use her pretentious knowledge of Feng Shui to help Loc, and she sees ghost in the house. Her son and aspirant writer Bao (Michael Minh) does not believe on his mother until he finds a surprising secret about Loc."Spirits" is a low-budget low-paced Vietnamese movie, with an interesting ghost story. The production is very simple, using practically the same location along the whole story, but is also very engaging and intriguing. The tales are timeless, i.e., there is no reference when they take place; the characters are developed along the plot, without a previous development, but I liked this supernatural tales. Kathy Nguyen and Kathleen Luong are extremely beautiful women and good actresses. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Sobrenatural" ("Supernatural")
evsherman
This movie did a great job of taking three of Viet Nam's ghost stories (truyen ma)into a horror movie that can be appreciated by the "west". After viewing many Asian horror movies, from many countries, much can be lost in the difference of culture and what the different cultures perceive events as frightening. This movie does an excellent job of doing that.However the movie is not without its flaws. It does lack a bit in character depth. My theory is that since they are based on Vietnamese stories, characters do not need the depth that many foreign audiences require. In Vietnamese culture the characters may take on various archetypes that are common in Vietnamese stories. For example the traveling author whose only companions were his paper and pen. This is just my thought that the original stories do not go into complete depth of the characters either.In conclusion, I felt this movie was like watching three very good episodes of the Twilight Zone, rather than a complete movie. I think anyone who is interested in Vietnamese literature may like the movie, along with those who want to enjoy a psychological thriller instead of the cliché gore flicks that inundate our theaters.In conclusion, I felt this movie was like watching three very good episodes of the Twilight Zone, rather than a complete movie. I think anyone who is interested in Vietnamese literature may like the movie, along with those who want to enjoy a psychological thriller instead of the cliché gore flicks that inundate our theaters.
Dave Wang
I am into foreign films, especially the ones made by new directors. So, I bought this movie. I am very sorry to say that I was extremely disappointed.It was a waste of money. No plot at all, story was terrible. Acting was not good, all the actors/actresses are pretty stiff. Photography was okay, not great. Also, why it is always so dark?? It was the first movie for this director and acting crew so I hope they'll do better in the future. For this director, I'll have wait and see it least one good review on his next movie (if there will be one) before I see it.I'll continue to support new directors and new talent.
AD
