Mad Fate

Pou-soi Cheang's follow-up to Limbo is a messy, slightly underwhelming thriller that dabbles in themes of fate and occultism. It's a curious piece as it just leaves almost no impression after watching it. Coming from a director whose films tend to be visceral and entertaining, that makes it a disappointment.

It begins promisingly, with Lam Ka-tung's manic character performing rituals to avert an upcoming calamity in a woman's life. Themes of fate and possible changing of it enter the film in style and in a slightly bonkers way. But then other characters get introduced, a serial killer and a young man on the path to become one himself. The film starts to get sidetracked and slowly loses focus, with most of the tension dissipating by the time it reaches its conclusion.

Without even mentioning terrible CGI (especially regarding a cat), this just can't keep up with Cheang's past films. Despite all the shortcomings, I wasn't bored, chiefly because its themes are interesting and Lam's character entertainingly unhinged. But it fades from memory fast and leaves an impression of unfulfilled potential.