In the heartwarming and quirky tale of Marry My Dead Body, a homophobic, ghost-fearing police officer named Wu Ming-Han (played by Hsu Kuang-Han) stumbles into an unexpected predicament. While investigating a case, he picks up a red envelope, only to be ambushed by strangers who declare him their son-in-law. They demand he marry their deceased…
The Monkey King (2023), an animated film by Stephen Chow, feels like a fresh take on a familiar tale—“new bottle, old wine,” as the saying goes. It follows a well-worn template but spins the story with a brisk, modern flair. Cramming a sprawling myth into a 90-minute runtime means the pacing is lightning-fast, which is…
Hungry Ghost Diner (2023) is a Hakka-Chinese film that captures the customs of the Chinese diaspora in Malaysia. It explores the fractured relationship between a father and daughter, mended through the efforts of an uncle and the maternal grandparents. However, the film leaves many questions unanswered, often presenting events without explaining their outcomes. This can…
When Evil Lurks (2023) is a supernatural horror film from Argentina, co-produced with the United States. It delivers a sense of mystery, unease, revulsion, and tension. Unlike the typical modern horror film, it doesn’t prioritize high-stakes drama or action. Instead, it centers on the perspective of a man (the protagonist) who encounters a possessed individual…