The Tattooist

Today we live in a day and age where the plot of a film can be condensed into a trailer and in such times, what if the film was the length of the trailer? Something Michael Wong has taken to heart with his micro short THE TATTOOIST.

Running in at just 80 seconds, there's a lot to digest. Is everything real? What's the narrative? Wow, did that just happen? All valid questions the quick cut film sees the audience asking and yet not letting them go long enough to miss the next frame. THE TATTOOIST is an interesting short, one that has no narrative yet gives enough away to allow the audience to make up their own mind. Does the latest customer become a victim of a sadistic human trafficking/torture network? Is the ink supernatural? Is this trauma bought on by the tattooist? Who knows, but one thing is for sure, in between the manic screams and sound akin to TETSUO, there is much more to uncover here that begs more to be seen of Michael Wong.

There's plenty of gore, and close up horror within the short, that unlike most movie trailers, this one perfectly balances itself between leaving the audience wanting more and enticing them with the fragments of a story yet to be told. We really do hoe to see a longer cut of THE TATTOOIST, something that feels very unique for the horror genre between the neon lights and blood drenched clientele held behind cells, there's enough mystery here to keep the momentum going for something special which is at the grasp of Wong.

Have you ever been to an under-2-minutes short film festival? "The Tattooist" is the poster child of their accomplishment. Terror, paranoia, and unfathomable blackness are synopsised in a minute and twenty seconds of ungodly, deranged insanity.

A short film by producer, writer, and director Michael Wong that needs exploring and expanding and so hope to see it becoming a feature in the very near future.

As a 1 minute and 19-second trailer, The Tattooist hones directly in on those who enjoy and appreciate a gory horror. Leading you to wonder, like The Story of 90 Coins, what Wong's vision would be like if he produced a feature-length film? From what it appears, flinching and twisting your face because of the visuals is very likely. Also, taking note of his previous work, it pushes the idea that while the hook may be the sights, with each prisoner being tested, perhaps their individual stories will be equally as compelling.

The Tattooist is a great micro-short that is in the form of a trailer. I loved every second of it. However, knowing that it is not yet a full length film really disappointed me. This feature was created by someone who has never directed horror before, which left me very much in awe because he is clearly a natural. I am looking forward to when Michael Wong and his crew can gather again to create the full version of this film!

The Tattooist follows the dark obsessions of a tattooist whose studio is acclaimed for its exceptional and intricately crafted tattoos. Those who receive his prized masterpiece are drugged, imprisoned, and then forced to fight their fears in a race against the clock to escape. Can they escape or will they become victims of The Tattooist?

The Tattooist trailer is beautifully shot and packed with imagery that teases of an extreme horror film and an extremely beautiful film. Unlike many horror movies, writer/director/producer Michael Wong's The Tattooist draws from a large pallet of colors while simultaneously showing brilliance in its use of color overlay at key moments. The pink glow of the neon sign and the black light lit laboratory are unmistakable and will resonate with fans of artistic horror.

Indie filmmaker Michael Wong transitioned to Indie films after 16 years as an ad agency art director and creative director, and his artistic abilities are clearly on display here. It's little wonder that he won more than 50 awards for his work as art director and creative director. Wong's work on ad campaigns for companies like Mercedes-Benz, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and Samsung honed his directorial eye and gave him an edge when entering filmmaking.

According to his biography, Wong "is the kind of collaborative thinker who's especially good at expanding on little thoughts and turning them into big ideas, with a strong and steady eye on making the work look and feel fresh", and this is undeniably evident in this 1:19 second trailer. Though brief, The Tattooist trailer is skillfully made with a clear understanding of the art of crafting a film as well as the needs of creating a story that captures the audience's attention. Beautiful cinematography and a series of shots that almost but not quite reveal what's in store for the eponymous antagonist's victims leave the viewer wanting more. Extreme gore in general and torture porn in particular often get criticized - even by fans of the horror genre, but Wong's vision is tantalizing in its brevity.

Malaysian-born Wong made his directorial debut in 2015 with The Story of 90 Coins, a short drama romance about an aspiring fashion designer who must betray herself and break a promise in order to realize her dream. The Story of 90 Coins made the film festival circuit, garnering over 60 awards or accolades, including Best Direction and Best Cinematography at Malta Short Festival, Best Drama and Best Cinematography at Los Angeles Film Awards, and Best Foreign Short at Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards. Though I'm not fond of romances, I'll definitely check out this 10 minute short purely to see more of Wong's work.

In addition to being nominated at many horror and independent film festivals, The Tattooist was an Official Selection for Midwest Horror Fest 2018, HorrorHaus Film Festival 2018, and Summer Scream Fest 2018. It won the Independent Horror Movie Awards (Aug) 2018 for Best Editing and Best Gore, Most Terrifying at Top Indie Film Awards (Aug) 2018, and Best Trailer/ Teaser at the Independent Shorts Awards (Aug) 2018.

Here's hoping Michael Wong's The Tattooist gets the backing because this is a horror movie we all need to see.