It Remains

This is a thrilling and touching movie. Every character is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The actors' acting skills lead you into another space. The lighting/editing/costumes/props are all very well done. The environment is shot beautifully. It's a work worth watching.and There is a surprise in the last section, because actor Ansonlo's neck-twisting movements are real, shocking and making real sounds, not (CG) effects. There are two opinions on the ending. Some say that Finn committed suicide, and some say that he was killed. It depends on the individual's understanding. Although the ending is not my favorite, maybe the director wants every audience to have space to think and analyze the details.

It Remains is an atmospheric horror thriller with tremendous acting from a diverse cast featuring both veteran and rookie actors. David Chiang (aka John Gor) shows his powerhouse acting prowess, tackling action scenes with ease despite his advanced age. The main lead Anson Lo surprises with the depth and range of his emotional expressions in key scenes in this film, and is particularly impressive in the final sequences when he has to portray two characters at once through body language, voice, facial expressions, and even his fingers. Completely agree with the @scmpnews film reviewer that Anson Lo made a dramatic acting breakthrough in It Remains. I sincerely believe he deserves a nomination at the HK film awards. The visual production and the sound editing are also highlights of this movie, with nightmarish but sleek imageries and eerie sound effects that haunt the mind. Yet this film is more touching than scary, in its deft depiction of relationships between father and daughter (David Chiang and Summer Chan) and between friends (Anson Lo and Tree Kok). The heart-to-heart talks between these pairs are heartbreaking but sweet. People have commented on the script being a weakness in this film, yet the story is very coherent to me and well-told.

The story is well paced after it's first 10-15 minute of slow burn, suffering from some disturbing incidents of varying quality, packing nice as well as mental scary moments . There are some really creepy scenes with soul reaching chills, ghastly surprises and outstanding the pleasantly visual look too. Beautiful Art Direction, especially the details on Chinese wedding scene which was just stunning.

There's a demon likes to get inside your mind, if he enters he can be a bit unkind, takes you down a winding path, a quite determined sociopath, doesn't care what trauma that he leaves behind. It's the kind of shade that's often passed along, the recipient may feel they don't belong, an imposter in their world, wearing a mask fully unfurled, all life's treasures we take for granted, simply gone.

Some stellar performances in a film that will get you thinking about the effects life's challenges present and how you deal with them, albeit through the eyes of those possessed by demonic urges they can't control.

In this age of horror being very much reliant on the gimmicks and unique right hooks to the audience to get them into the seats, it's not entirely common that one sees a good old fashioned spook-house horror film.

No gimmicks. No twists. Just a film that does its absolute best to get your skin crawling, nerves tightened, and heart pounding.

'It Remains', as you may imagine, is one of those films.

'It Remains' is about as simple as a horror movie nowadays can come; terrible circumstances befall a seemingly ordinary friend group, these weird circumstances lead to discoveries of something terrible in each of the characters, and soon enough things come apart rather quickly.

What this film excels at is all in the technical. The performances are all beyond convincing and do the job selling the understated terror this film has to offer. Specifically, David Chiang, Tommy Chu delivers in a manner that had even my skin crawling.

What is also noticeable when it comes to this film's strengths is the excellent cinematography, this film accomplishes a more suitable sense of suspense and nerve-wracking tension through it. Whether in-motion or standing completely still, the camera makes itself apparent in this film and works beyond effectively.

The only thing of it is, this film is not for you if you prefer a straightforward and conventional horror film. The first act is very much a slow burn, while the rest of the film builds its horror and tension in ways that I do not believe a general audience would appreciate quite as much. It's not abstract, but considering it lacks the conventions of jumpscares and instead relies on atmosphere, mood, and its performances to scare...that perhaps explains a bit why the film is striking the general audience as so polarizing.

But, if you can appreciate a slow, creepy, atmospheric film that aims directly to make your skin crawl and make you shuffle in your seat, I think you'll truly enjoy the ride this film takes you on.

Unconventional, scary as hell, but perhaps not perfect in what it aspires to do, 'It Remains' is still a scary time for all the right reasons! Bravo to this new director coming out from Hong Kong!

Giving this an 7.5/10 rating

Slow horror from China, that takes it time to really develop the characters, the background, among the death and doom thought the film. Not many horror films that I have seen from his country, so make the best of it.

Another film that uses colour and settings real well, setting up the mood for start and end, with no end o the dread though out, which is good. Stars, Anson Lo, David Chiang and Summer Chan, give very simple and sometimes mad emotions, in the very mostly dark stages of the film, and the death count is very high when you get the full story and the horror.

It's very good, gore comes later as each poor soul is subjected to living nightmares on the trip to a remote place, they of course are preyed upon, bits of their past are going into play,

For what i is, it's good, and makes a change from what we usually get from this part of the world, not much horror at all. The ending is the right one. But might not agree with me.