"A mother. A son.
A timeless tale of loss and grieve,
a mother's love, and letting go...."
I have to admit that I haven't really been following the cinema scene in Singapore, but I have been quite interested in the exploits of director Lee Thean-Jeen.
To be fair, TJ is a veteran of the television scene in Singapore. This is the man who brought us the groundbreaking legal drama The Pupil, followed more recently by the very excellent Code of Law. And if anyone can remember far back enough, he gave us Chase as well.
When it comes to English dramas in Singapore, I can only describe TJ's contributions as 'pushing boundaries', 'setting standards', 'raising the bar', and whatever other superlatives I can think of to describe taking Singapore television to 'the next level'.
Once upon a time, we only dreamt of somehow bringing the standards of acclaimed crime dramas like Law and Order, and CSI to Singapore. But TJ handed that to us on a platter with The Pupil and Code of Law. Lucky us.
But as anyone in the industry will know, translating TV success to the big screen is a completely different kettle of fish. TJ is no stranger to the film industry though, having already helmed the successful 2011 vehicle Homecoming.
And now we have Bring Back the Dead, TJ's latest outing as a film director. As one of the most promising directors in Singapore today, how will he fare on the exacting stage of Singapore cinema?
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| Jessica Liu as a grieving mother who must come to terms with the loss of her son. |
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| Liu Ling Ling as the perennial wise ah soh. |
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| Taiwan actor Jacko Chiang - a handsome coupling with Jessica |
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| He's not blind really - water just gets in his eyes.... |
Needless to say, she gets back more than she bargains for. Let the shocks and scares ensue.
And they certainly do, in a measured, but escalating fashion. One thing the movie does very well is to deliver on what really matters in a horror film - the horror. Audiences can expect a ride that oscillates between slow, rising dread and outright shocking violence as Jessica's character Jia En finds herself dealing with an increasingly volatile and capricious spirit.
Is that her son or not? We know how children can be - is it just a case of a frightened spirit crying for attention? Or is there more than meets the eye?
As can be expected of a Lee Thean-Jeen movie, the film is beautifully shot and composed. Nearly every opening to a scene is meticulously and creatively framed. And at the centre of it all, is the very beautiful and elegantly vulnerable Jessica Liu.
I too have high hopes for Jessica Liu. She is one of those actresses with a unique screen presence that sets her apart from her peers. Here, she acquits herself well as a grieving mother trying to come to terms with her tragic loss. Her character could be better developed, but that's hardly her fault.
Which unfortunately, brings us to the film's one drawback. There are almost no surprises. Okay, in terms of shock value and scares - they work and they should blow your mind. But when it comes to narrative flow, the storyline is rather too predictable. Even the obligatory horror twist comes across as more of a tired cliche.
Bring Back the Dead nonetheless delivers as I mentioned earlier, where it really matters. As a horror film, it is sure to jolt you in your seat. As a dramatic story, the premise of a grieving mother pining for her lost son is a timeless tale that certainly brought a tear to my eye at the very end.
Exclamations for:
! Outstanding Actress: I don't want to end up gushing too much over Jessica Liu like some lovelorn schoolboy, but I wish nothing but the best for her career. This is probably one of her first forays into film, and I certainly hope she succeeds in stepping out of the shadow of television and onto the wider, international stage.
Query for:
? Predictable Storyline: If I were to look at the onscreen developments more critically, I certainly would think it can be done better. This is not to do with the script, but rather how the scenes are set up for the reveals later on. To be fair, this is particularly a challenge within the horror genre, where subtlety can sometimes be lost on an audience.
