Rigor Mortis

For way too long have Korea, Thailand and Japan dominated the Asian market as far as ghost movies go. And it is really, really nice to see Hong Kong make a mark for itself in the ghost genre. Director Juno Mak has really managed to put together a really unique movie here.

Unlike other Asian ghost movies, then this is not a stereotypical ghost movie with a dead girl in a white dress and having her long, black hair covering her face. No, this is way beyond that. Sure it has that element as well, but it just takes it to the next step. And as if that isn't enough, then "Rigor Mortis" also throws in the element of the Chinese vampire mythology into the mix. Odd? Perhaps. Does it work? Oh yeah it does!

"Rigor Mortis" is a very visual and graphic movie, which is rather unlike most Asian ghost movies, and it is a much needed and most welcomed contribution to the genre.

However, a word of warning, "Rigor Mortis" is not just for everyone, especially not if you are set in the way of the traditional Asian ghost movies. But enter this movie with an open mind and leave yourself open to the impressions, but visual and subliminal.

The story in "Rigor Mortis" is about a troubled man who comes to an old and rundown building, where he rents room 2442 - a room with a dark and troubled past. Set out to take his own life and end his torment, it becomes clear that the entire building is a locale of haunts, gruesome tales, and dark magic.

Effects-wise, then "Rigor Mortis" is a visual treat, eye candy if you will. Why? Well, because the CGI effects were realistic and came off a believable, and really helped augment the story and the flow of the movie. And it was nice to see some Asian ghost aside from that stereotypical girl in white dress with her hair covering her entire face.

If you enjoy Asian horror movies, or perhaps ghost movies in particular, then you should without a doubt take a look at Juno Mak's movie, because it is rather amazing. Great entertainment, good story, nice effects and a great change of pace in this particular genre.

Rigor Mortis, alongside Dream Home (2011) and Vulgaria (2012) is a string of strikingly local, one-hundred percent "Made in HK" cantonese productions thoroughly tickling the film buds of HK-cinefreaks like myself.

Prepared in a film industry long perceived as dead by me. One that since have been focusing on mainland China as its' main moviegoer, racking up Chinese-produced spectacles featuring dubbed mainland performers when not dishing out Lan Kwai Fong 1,2,3. This is a very, if not exceptionally, welcomed piece of what drove me to HK-cinema in the first place.

Take a slice of 80's hopping vampires sans the comedy, blended into perfection with stylish visuals, Ju-On-esque storytelling, loads of urban cantonese profanities and one can totally engulf himself in a genuine Hong-Kong movie experience. One rarely stumbled upon today.

Thank you, Juno Mak!

"Rigor Mortis" is Hong Kong's call-back to new resurgence of horror/fantasy. Billed as a feature film inspired by a popular the popular Vampire films of the 80's. this movie gives us a dark, wondrous nightmare. Starring Anthony Chan, Siu-Ho Chin, Kara Hui, Hoi-Pang Lo, Richard Ng, and Hee Ching Paw. The plot revolves around an ex actor on a downward spiral, longing for death, who moves into an apartment tower where realm of supernatural and humanity are entwined.

"Rigor Mortis" offers a fantastical fantasy world of horror, drama and Hong Kong action. The story is multi-layered with lives tangled in a hellish fate. There are elements of melodrama and gore that move in a wonderful ballet of emotion and carnage. I feel that the story works as a modern retelling of some ancient Chinese fable, the concepts and character development seem so complex and powerful that it just screams of morality wisdom from the past. Either way it is a tale that embraces both the old supernatural beliefs and contemporary style that proves Hong Kong's dominance over this blended fantasy/horror genre.

The special effects and soundtrack utilized in "Rigor Mortis" is top notch. The sounds are creepy, often creating a dark atmosphere of desperation scene after scene. The sets where depressing, lifeless tombs of fading lives that would send chills up Takashi Shimizu and Clive Barker's backs. "Rigor Mortis" uses some pretty spectacular CGI and practical effects for the fantasy and horror elements. Epic visual moments weave into the film in true whimsical opulence while the blood soaked gore combined with the chilling horror scenes create a nightmare fantasy that captivates and entertains. Just based on "Rigor Mortis" as an independent entity untethered from it's inspiration, homages and such I found this to be one of the best horror/fantasy films that I have ever seen. "Rigor Mortis" is Juno Mak's masterpiece and a must see film!

Being picked for the Toronto International Film Festival's Midnight Madness Series with your first ever feature film is an achievement unto itself. But that is exactly what Hong Kong pop star-turned-director, Juno Mak finds himself with his first film, Rigor Mortis.

Described as a tribute to the horror-comedy series Mr. Vampire, Rigor Mortis takes its audience to an apartment complex where aging actor Chin Sui-Ho finds himself moping after the loss of his wife and son. Ghosts and spirits are already known to loiter the halls of the building, but when a grieving resident attempts a ritual to bring her husband back from the dead the residents are forced to confront the evil of the supernatural including a vampire like creature that terrorizes the residents.

Filled with some remarkable effects complimenting the very dark and dreary setting of the depraved building, Rigor Mortis is pea soup thick with atmosphere. Asian cinema has always been the front runners in bringing ghost stories to the masses (Dark Water, Ju-on, Ringu), and director Juno Mak has surrounded himself with a top effects team to bring his creatures to life.

Unfortunately, the visuals are not enough to save the film from the mediocrity pool. The script is slow in getting to the goods and its complexity reminded us of Timur Bekmambetov's Night Watch – a glorious looking film that got lost among its effects. The indulgence is particularly evident in the film's finale which includes a wonderful fight between our protagonist, the vampire like creature and two ghostly twins.

Fans of the Mr. Vampire series may end up scratching their heads wondering where the comedic punch from their series has gone as Rigor Mortis has hardly two laughs to share from credits to credits. It's as serious as a heart-attack even if the EKG indicates it only to be a mild one. Suicides, rape and even the placement of harm's way of a small boy are some of the serious overtones that engulf the moods of the film. Usually such melancholy is exactly what the horror doctor orders, but Rigor Mortis plays more like a psychedelic bad dream than a viable horror film worthy of our recommendation.

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You probably wouldn't figure pop star turned actor Juno Mak for a serious filmmaker; after all, the singer cum fashionista is best known for being one of Gillian Chung's ex-boyfriends. That is precisely why his directorial debut 'Rigor Mortis' will take you by surprise. A visually stunning homage to the 1980s heydays of Hong Kong cinema when the vampire genre was very much alive (mostly in the form of the "hopping vampire" horror comedies), it proves itself to be so much more than a feast for genre fans, packing a surprisingly amount of emotional depth and establishing itself as a refreshingly different kind of meta- cinema.

Vampire aficionados will immediately recognise lead actor Chin Siu-ho from the opening scene, one of the last surviving alum of the classic 1985 'Mr Vampire' series (Mak dedicates the film to the two other deceased members, Lam Ching Ying and Ricky Hui) who plays himself as a washed-up movie star who moves into a dilapidated tenement building to commit suicide. That act of despair introduces him to Uncle Yau (Anthony Chan Yau, erstwhile drummer of the 1970s band The Wynners as well as Chin's supporting star from 'Mr Vampire'), a veteran Taoist vampire hunter who now runs his own food stall around the neighbourhood.

Besides Uncle Yau, Chin also gains the attention of the other mostly elderly tenants of the complex played by equally venerable veterans of Hong Kong cinema. Nina Paw and Richard Ng are a devoted couple whose bond of love is tested when one of them meets with an accident and winds up dead. Chung Fat is a local temple priest who happens to be dabbling in the backroom of his apartment in the dark arts. Kara Hui is a single mother to an albino boy whose tragic past is linked to the apartment which Chin moves into. And last but not least, Johnnie To regular Lo Hoi Pang is the building's sole security guard who watches the comings and goings of the block with a wary but watchful eye.

As one of the screenwriters, Mak (who co-writes with Philip Yung and Jill Leung) likes to keep his cards close to his chest. There is no hurry in the way he slowly reveals the backstory of each of the characters, opting instead to build an eerie and unsettling atmosphere of suspense and dread with every frame. While that does demand a certain level of patience from its viewer, Mak is surprisingly effective at getting under the skin of his audience with a strong visual style heavy with musty subdued colours. The influence by producer Takashi Shimizu of 'The Grudge' is undeniable, but Mak holds its own with some truly hypnotic images in slo-mo no less.

Borrowing a leaf from his 'Revenge: A Love Story' director Wong Ching Po, Mak stages the action sequences with a fair amount of graphic violence. Yes, more faint-headed audiences should take note - some of the scenes not only get bloody, but can get rather disturbingly violent, and will surely startle the more squeamish at heart. But even as Mak clearly intends for his film to appeal as well to a younger audience who crave for such vivid details, he never does get excessive, demonstrating a fair bit of restraint in scenes which could have easily been much more explicit.

Mak also pairs his gory thrills with a generous helping of visual effects, relying less and less on his natural surroundings and more on lavishly designed dreamscapes that only make sense if one understands the rituals at the heart of the film (indeed, that's something very likely to be lost on a Western audience). Truth be told, the VFX-heavy climax was somewhat alienating to watch at first, but eventually made complete sense when viewed in the context of the love-it-or-hate-it coda. Don't say we didn't warn you - it doesn't quite end the way you want it to; instead, Mak throws in a last-minute twist that will undoubtedly throw you off-kilter, but in our opinion, is a unusually elegant eulogy to a genre and its stalwarts who have long since gone out of fashion.

Unmistakable throughout the film is a distinct sense of loss and regret, whether in the form of a loving wife who tries all she can to preserve the life of her deceased husband or the inability of vengeful spirits to let go of their tragic past or even an individual's desolation at having f**ked up his life with his loved ones. The same could be said of the veterans who make up the ensemble cast; despite being icons in the past, they have largely been forgotten by modern Hong Kong cinema, and just going by each of their compelling performances here, reason to mourn for the passing of a significant era of the industry. Like 'Gallants' from two years ago, there is a palpable sense of nostalgia one gets watching these veterans take to the screen like they never left.

And 'Rigor Mortis' deserves to be appreciated in that very light, as a tribute to the 'keung si' genre as well as Mak's personal thoughts on their fortunes since. The fact that he is a newcomer to filmmaking makes this an even bigger triumph for Mak, who delivers a thrilling and unexpectedly poignant horror movie steeped in its own unique visual aesthetic. We're not denying that there will be those who dislike Mak for pulling the rug from under their feet right at the end, but it is to us a graceful and thought-provoking turn that makes it an unusual and inspired piece of meta-cinema.