Horror Movie Review #2 Painted Skin ~ 画皮 Movie Review

PAINTED SKIN ... new kinda Chinese gothic sexiness...

(Directed by Gordon Chan)

Okay, the long awaited Horror Movie Review marathon is back!!! After reviewing Rec, Spanish survival zombie flick shot in Blair Witch style previously, my inspiration for reviewing horror films just kinda went dead and I took a long break to look into other movies instead. Not that I didn't watch any horror films in between, of course, being the fan of supernatural that I am, but just too lazy to review or share  them. Nonetheless, I shall present Painted Skin, our Chinese horror gothic romance flick of the year, starring impressive names suchas Zhou Xun, Vicky Zhao, Donnie Yen, our very own Qi Yiwu, Sun Li and Chen Kun.

Painted Skin (translated as Hua Pi), a chinese literature from the classic Liao Zai series, a collection of short ghost stories taking place in ancient China, is more of a LOVE story than a horror one. Still, I shall put this in as one of my Horror Movie reviews base on the fact that it is a well known Liao Zai story deserving to be make known to those who are new to it.

The plot, a departure from the original, which I shall not go into detail here, feature a general, Wang Cheng (Chen Kun), who rescue a beautiful lady from the Bandits camp while making their way home from the desert. They learnt that her name is Xiaowei (Zhou Xun) and she has no family. Feeling sorry for her (and also taken in by her striking beauty), Wang brought her back home.

*SPOILERS*

Back at the Wang's residence, as much as Wang's gentle wife, Pei Rong (Vicky Zhao) tried to graciously accept the new comer, she can't help but be suspicious of Xiaowei's background and strange habits that beckon she might just be something out of this world.

Her worst fears are proven right when a feisty female demon hunter and Wang's brother (played by Donnie Yen) shows up in town to confirm that there are evil monsters in town going around ripping hearts out of good ol' town folks and points all possible sign of evidence at Xiaowei, who is obviously not as innocent as she looks. Yes, beneath that innocent facade of the lavishingly beautiful girl lies a 1000 yr fox spirit who has been surviving her youth on human hearts. Her food supply cames direct from her partner in crime, Lizard spirit (played by Qi Yiwu), who has been doing all the dirty deeds on her behalf and without complain. Such is the power of love (albeit an unrequited one) for the foxy lady only has eyes for the married General Wang and she will go to extreme measures to make sure she gets her man.

However, the trio doesn't exactly have much convincing power, considering that Wang's brother (forgot his name, lets just call him Yen) was Hui Ru's ex-flame (but she chooses Wang instead), the other was a muddle-headed demon slayer who hadn't quite inherit all the necessary skills from her grandfather and Hui Ru herself was also starting to have doubts on whether she was actually seeing things. Then more ppl turn up dead and the truth was reveal to be more than what Hui Ru has bargain for ...

Eventually, can the genteel wife save the bewitched husband who is so blinded by the beauty and innocence of the demon to realize the folly of his ways and how close he is to losing his own wife?

Yup, none of the cast are relatively new to you, be it from television or films. Needless to say, Donnie Yen & Vicki Zhao put on solid and emotional performances without a flinch, taking into consideration their strong acting background and experiences. Donnie was convincing as the tired fighter who choose to withdraw from battle to live life as a lone traveller only to be pull into another war with the supernatural in order to protect those he loves.

Gone is the cute and adorable Vicki, whom we remember best as Little Swallow (My Fair Princess), and in place is a matured and lovely young woman who is ready to take on bigger and darker roles.

Zhou Xun, needless to say, conquer the role as if she particularly owns it, playing the character of the seductress with full relish and haughtiness. Her fox spirit is both beautiful and deadly, and men can't escape from her clutches but forbidden fruit is sweeter even to a 1-000 yr old spirit and she wants her man even when she knows he won't have her.

Qi Yiwu, in his first periodic drama, is definitely a talent worthy of better and bigger roles in future, but with, of course a little polishing first. Having proven his ability to take on characters of different emotional depths, ranging from 881's silent mommy's boy to 12 Lotus sauve Ah Beng and handsome bad boy who romance both mother and daughter in the Home Song Stories, it is time for 715 (his nick) to cross the boundaries and attempt heavier weight roles that can garner him better recognition from fans of other countries.

You can call Painted Skin a Chinese gothic tale ... of twisted love, possession, seduction, murder & eventually sacrifice ... it's a whole new take on the concept of traditional horror from Chinese cinema and it's real purpose doesn't aim to scare, but to tell a story that sympathizes with both demons and humans like... equally pitiful characters that have both their strengths and weaknesses ...

Extra: Theme song, Painted Heart (Hua Xin), sung by Jane Zhang (Jin Qin) is worthy of a listen too, with it's equally matching haunting melody accompanied by Jane's lovely voice ...