movieluvr99

This is well made and well acted. I was surprised by it. A step above your typical invasion thrillers with a mysterious and emotional heart. I liked the use of sound versus background music to create tension. The aliens themselves were a good blend of traditional gray plus more modern Slender Man/Siren Head sensibilities. Made for some terrific feelings of dread. The main character didn't have any dumb moments and the main actress did a great job engendering empathy from the audience. I was especially pleased by the ending. Without spoiling, I will always root for the non-corny ending, and this provided a unique twist to achieve that.

If you're eager for a supernatural mystery with a healthy dollop of angst, you must invite The Guest into your life. After a frightening opening episode, this series settles into a fast-paced and intriguing supernatural detective show that keeps viewers anxiously twisting in the wind. The acting of the possessed characters is unsettling and believable--demons don't need cgi to be scary. But the show's strength lies in the acting of the main trio. The series delves frequently into their sad histories and sometimes misguided motivations and gives the actors plenty to work with. They don't drop the ball. Each is a character worth following on their own, but as a team their connection lifts the storyline even higher, bringing a found family element that softens the scarier twists and turns of the plot. You genuinely like these people and want them to succeed and find peace for themselves, which only increases the overall tension. This show is thrilling from beginning to end, with an after-credits denouement that provides much-needed relief. Despite the dark subject matter, this is a well-acted drama that bears repeated viewing.

Director Cheng Er has corralled the large swathes of genius he exhibited in Lethal Hostage and The Wasted Times and painted a stunning movie that may be his masterpiece. His script and meticulous editing combine to present a gorgeous puzzle that is never too difficult to solve and unwinds in a clever way that leaves the audience feeling rewarded and satisfied. A mysterious set up leads to a nearly rapturous payoff, with nary a misstep along the way for movie viewers who pay attention.

Cheng Er couldn't have achieved such success without skilled players. Tony Leung and Zhou Xun give expected, empathetic performances. The movie feels solid and secure in their hands. But the heart of Hidden Blade actually rests on the shoulders of a young newcomer actor, Wang Yibo. Wang's performance is the definition of a brilliant debut. His character's ambiguous position--is he a villain or not?--is played subtley yet powerfully. It's not an exaggeration to state that the success of the story--and the movie as a whole--relies on Wang being able to carry such a complicated role. Fortunately he doesn't falter, leading the movie goer through a second half that leaves audiences breathless, stunned, and in awe.

Hidden Blade walks a fine line between fine art and commercial appeal. Though arguments can be made whether it leans one way or the other, the end result is a movie that leaves the viewer with the enviable feeling of having watched something wonderful and needing to know how much better it can be with repeat viewings. Regardless of final box office, Hidden Blade is a triumph for both Cheng Er and his talented cast.