The Trailer:
Cast: Siu-Ho Chin, Anthony Chan, Fat Chung, Kara Hui, & Richard Ng
Synopsis: After moving to a public housing tenement, a failed actor, Chin Siu-ho (Siu-ho Chin) attempts to commit suicide only to be saved by a strange neighbor. After the attempt, many a strange occurrences begin happening which Chin must now try to combat.
Upon first finishing the movie, I liked it but wasn't particularly moved by it in any way. But after a night of being haunted by the ghosts and vampires showcased in this movie do I finally understand the slow dissolving horror this movie has to offer. Rigor Mortis is stylish, heartbreaking, and horrifying in it's own way; a way that is both unique and familiar in the Asian ghost-story scene. The fight scenes are Matrix-style and wonderful: the special effects that make that happen were superbly executed and done without many hiccups. The whole vibe the movie gives off is surreal and like a comic-book (think Sucker Punch). There's never really a scare moment in the movie, but rather, moments where there are supernatural elements. It's much more a fantastical hero story, than that of a horror film. Which I'm okay with because the movie is beautifully crafted. Visually, it's a treat for the eyes. The story is a little on the drab side, and moves at a slow pace which, for my taste, doesn't mesh well with the quicker-paced fight scenes. But that may just be me and my American need for things to be fast and efficient (Haha). The movie begins with a shot of the ending, which leads to the illusion that we know what the ending is and just have to watch in order to see how the characters got to that point. I personally love movie done in this fashion, so immediately I was hooked. Also, setting the movie up in the enclosed, yet vast space of the daunting tenement building leaves an eerie taste in our mouth right from the start, which assists in the overall unearthly tone of the rest of the film. And also, later leads to a feeling of inescapableness. The color theme of the movie is earthy with lots of browns and tans that have a high contrast to the bright bursts of blood that happen throughout. The ending offers a twist, which is reminiscent of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Pierce, which is not so much a twist but a tragic realization. If you've ever read "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" I might have just ruined the ending for you (Sorrynotsorry). This movie is also interesting in that it can be a movie purely for entertainment or it can be a movie with a much deeper meaning than it has you believe. There are many allusions and parallels to Chinese folklore and mythology. Is it required that you be familiar with Chinese folklore and mythology in order to watch the movie? Not at all, but if you're like me and want a more clear picture of what the director and writer wanted to show in this movie then you might want to do some research. The ending also offers a reason why the movie is titled Rigor Mortis, which I happen to find quite clever and foreshadowing.
Overall, I enjoyed the movie. And like I mentioned before, the idea of the spirits and the way they moved about haunted me in my dreams last night. Rigor Mortis is truly unforgettable and chilling and I loved it. Would I watch it again? Hell yes!!
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