Keeper of Darkness (2015)

Nick Cheung perseveres.

As an artist in Hong Kong you have to be able to act as well as direct, Cheung is therefore building his career vigorously. This Keeper of Darkness is quite in line with his previous film, one for the HK lover.

The problem is that horror means something different there. It is more dark fantasy where some lightness is not out of place. That ensures that it is usually not really scary and there is no classic tension build-up.

This is also the case in this film. Lots of ghosts and such, but nowhere does it get really exciting or is presented as typical scare horror. Reminds me more of Re-cycle by the Pangs, especially because Cheung regularly leans heavily on the CG here.

It's a nice mix of elements, executed quite well. I just thought it was a bit too variable in terms of atmosphere. Also the CG is sometimes too emphatically present and although Cheung comes across quite charismatic there were better options for his role. But quite an entertaining movie, although you have to know what you're getting into and not expect a typical horror movie.

3.5*

Translated from Dutch · View original