Feng Shui - Chito Rono
Finally saw this film last night, expecting nothing but a mental recap of mixed reviews I've read. So far, it's a nice film, I won't have to put a tiny synopsis here since almost everybody have already seen it. It's an effective thriller, nonetheless, but carries a plethora of both technical and creative flaws that are obvious enough to be noticed. First, I don't like the plot. Somehow, it brings an unusual negative effect on Feng Shui in general- - -which we normally turn to for us to get good fortune. The use of ba-gua as a malevolent ala-Friday-the-13-the-series-thingie (the catalyst for whatever ill-fortune that befell the characters in the movie) seems to be like a smear campaign to boycott the sales of that particular thing. I also don't like the idea of having those ghosts walk around the house as if they already reside in it- - -more like a retribution to Joy for putting pushing them to their early graves? Or does it have anything to do with the ba-gua itself? Third, yeah, Filipinos are suckers for spoiling the mystery by explaining them through a, let's say, a pseudo-expert on the matter. Joonee Gamboa's cameo is unnecessary, he's the spoon who is shoved inside the audience's mouths, feeding them anything that would kill the thinking. Fourth, there is no need for the overuse of sound score. I think it would be better if Rono partly relies on silence to contribute to the suspense. Feng Shui is, evidently, a spin-off of some Asian horror thing, and Ringu comes to mind since I don't usually fancy them much. Fifth, the acting: except for the supporting roles like Lotlot and Ilonah Jean, it just sagged. I don't know but it just hit me that this film would spawn a sequel or number of sequels primarily because it ended unresolved. Ambiguity is one of our weaknesses, so I'd be probably right. (yeah, Filipinos are also suckers to see what happened to Joy and the to family that inherited the ba-gua). Sixth, the ending: it would be more effective had they took out the make-up and merely utter that impeccable spoiler of a dialogue (ala-Sixth Sense ba?). Anyway, it is entertainment, nevertheless, but not a thinking man's movie. It may not be the perfect horror movie but it sure frightened the hell out of me.
