Not especially original or innovative but given the beautifully shot Vietnamese locales this turns out to be a very watchable variation on a theme. The main interiors of the wonderful colonial dwelling also make for a sumptuous setting. Slightly unsettling for an English viewer is that the mix of local Vietnamese and English speakers actually represents the indigenous people and the French invaders at the time of the conflict in the early 50s in what was then known as Indo China. Once we accept the English speakers are French rubber plantation owners with a bad history the scene is set for spooky goings on in the lovely old house and the fantastic and scenic woods and surrounding area. Bit reminiscent of those 60s Japanese ghost story films but more explicit and more sexy. Very enjoyable and if not full of surprises, the ending probably will be.
Plot summary
When an orphaned Vietnamese girl is hired to be a housemaid at a haunted rubber plantation in 1953 French Indochina, she unexpectedly falls in love with the French landowner and awakens the vengeful ghost of his dead wife... who is out for blood.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Not especially original or innovative
Recommended.
This sprawling, beautifully photographed French/Vietnamese horror film threatens to get a bit messy once or twice. Many ideas seem to be thrown at it, and the viewer could get a little overwhelmed. However, as the story continues, the various segments of information we are given fall into place amid the revelations and twists.
Kate Nhung is extraordinarily good as orphaned Vietnamese housemaid Linh, drifting from shy, respectful compliance to growing confidence as events escalate. She is surrounded by great performances too.
Whilst the scares are fairly tepid, despite Jerome Leroy's crashing score, Derek Nguyun's direction is such that the over-riding atmosphere of dread hits the heights the jump-scares don't quite reach.
I enjoyed this tale, which at times didn't quite know what it wanted to be. By the end, though, everything comes together in a very powerful way. My score is 8 out of 10.
It was great though there are some holes in it
I like the story overall. The affair between the housemaid and the owner.All the ghosts stories how his wife and child died, how he killed all those vietnamese bla blaaa.All those ghosts keep killing people who are returing their home but why?Not all people are guilty!! What about those zombies shown in some scenes.Okay I understand those are done to make audience believe it's all done by ghost and zombies. But why all of a suddend it was shown that Linh and detective are brother and sister, they all done this for taking revenge.If they were too young than how can they killed people then?