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Inner Senses

Year of release: 2002

Genre: suspense

Director: Law Chi-Leung

Stars: Leslie Cheung, Karena Lam, Waise Lee, Valerie Chow

Rated IIB for disturbing imagery

Version reviewed: Tai Seng DVD


Though Inner Senses would have gotten its' fair share of attention since it was Leslie Cheung's last movie before his untimely death, it's a solid enough effort that it still warrants a viewing. In the film, Cheung plays a psychatrist who is trying to help a troubled patient (Karena Lam) who keeps seeing ghosts. Since the doctor doesn't believe in ghosts, he takes a rational approach to curing Lam. But his treatment brings forth his own hidden demons and he starts experiencing other-worldly affairs of his own.

Ghost movies are literally a dime a dozen over in Hong Kong (such as the long-running Troublesome Night series), so it takes something special for one of them to stand out. Though there is nothing really ground-breaking here, Inner Senses does manage to deliver a few thrills and shocks over its' running time. There are more than a few similarities with films like The Eye and The Sixth Sense, but there are enough twists and turns to keep the viewer guessing without making matters overly convoluted.

Inner Senses has a nice style about it -- unique without being too flashy. When you combine that with the strong performances of the lead actors, you have the makings of a good ghost/suspense film. Even though some Leslie Cheung fans might have a hard time sitting through this movie's conculsion (which sort of parallels his own tragic demise), Inner Senses is still one of the better ghost flicks Hong Kong has cranked out over the past few years.

RATING: 7


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