Acting in 18+ horror films, Cat Vi and Lam Thanh My shine as two children with “shadow”, surpassing the acting of Quang Tuan and Dieu Nhi.
* This article reveals some of the film’s content
Trailer for the movie “Sleeping Shadows”. Videos: CGV
The work that has attracted attention since its publication is the re-export project Le Van Kiet – director Hi Phuong – after three years. This film exploits the fear of sleep paralysis (the feeling of being paralyzed during sleep while the mind is awake), which is inspired by the true story of the director.
The film opens with familiar motifs from the horror genre. After the death of his wife, to ease the pain, Thanh (Quang Tuan) and his two daughters Linh (Lam Thanh My) and Yen (Mai Cat Vi) move to live in an old house in the countryside. In contrast to the peaceful scenery day and night, the house began to have a mysterious phenomenon that only Linh and Yen could feel.
A pair of child actors are the main attraction of this film. Used to play Mai – daughter of the character Hai Phuong In the film of the same name, Cat Vi continues to be a director’s expensive choice in his new films. At the age of 11 (when filming began), the child actor proved his ability to change his mind. At the beginning of the film, Yen’s character evokes sympathy with the melancholic character of a little girl who soon suffers from the loss of her mother. With scenes starring Lam Thanh My, the two harmonize in impromptu everyday conversations. The way the two characters tease and play creates sympathy for natural acting.
Thanh My (left) and Cat Vi play sisters with the phenomenon of “sleep paralysis” in the film. Photo: Thu Thuong
When a mysterious phenomenon occurs, Cat Vi attracts viewers with its expressions and forms. In many scenes, Yen stiffens, sweats, his eyes widen by the ghostly figures that appear around the house. In the second half of the film, as the twist unfolds, the child actors create a climactic atmosphere in the chase scene.
Lam Thanh My has a heavy psychological role since the film I see a yellow flower on the green grass (2015, directed by Victor Vu). Unlike Yen – an innocent younger brother, Linh must gradually learn how to cover up, become a spiritual support for him, take care of the house after the death of his mother. The girl faces the physiological changes of puberty but doesn’t know how to tell anyone, including her father. Thanh My chose a moderate acting style, with a fair amount of emphasis on her voice. In the third act of the film, the character develops deeper into character – stronger, more confident to protect his sister. From nostalgia for her mother, Yen turns pain into strength to lift her loved ones, rid of her “ghost” obsession.
Lam Thanh My has made a step forward in acting compared to the time “I saw a yellow flower on a green grass”. Photo: Thu Thuong
Compared to the two child actors, Quang Tuan and Dieu Nhi are a bit fuzzy. In the first half of the work, Thanh’s character appears less, but then takes on many important scenes. Quang Tuan’s new role is a man who experiences a lot of psychological trauma after the incident. The more he tried to escape the shadows of the past, the more trapped he became. Dieu Nhi plays Hanh, a psychiatrist who Thanh invites to treat his children. Trying to get rid of the comedian label, Dieu Nhi has yet to make a breakthrough with his role. At the end of the film, Hanh’s ending is in the middle because the director has not completely resolved the situation.
Dieu Nhi (left) and Quang Tuan in the film. Photo: Thu Thuong
After a promising first half, the film suddenly changes direction when its most important twist is revealed. From here, the story becomes chaotic and disjointed due to the lack of prior background detail. The film’s easy ending, through loudspeakers, caused a bit of disappointment for the audience.
This film has scary scenes reminiscent of some Hollywood productions. Many scenes of the emergence of spiritual powers that have similarities with the jumpscare (sudden scary) director James Wan in the film. The Conjuring (two thousand thirteen). In one segment, the ghost image in the film is easy for the audience to remember Mama – Thriller hits 2013
Unlike many Vietnamese films of the same genre, director Le Van Kiet uses a cinematic angle. The film has many wide shots with drones to depict peaceful rural landscapes, or scenes of shaking and swaying during ghostly phenomena. In flashback segments of the past, a much closer approach to bright white tones evokes a lot of fantastical and nostalgic feelings. Sound is also an element the director installs to evoke fear, from the giggling of children to the creaking and knocking of doors in the old house.
Tam Kyu
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here
