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Shiver

Year of release: 2003

Genre: horror/supsense

Director: Billy Chung

Stars: Athena Chu, Francis Ng, Nick Cheung, Tiffany Lee

Rated IIB for language and violence

Version reviewed: Universe DVD


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Like in the '80's with gangster movies, the ghost genre seems to be one of the most popular types of Hong Kong films nowadays. Most of them, like a lot of the A Better Tomorrow wannabes cranked out during the "golden age" of HK movies, are pretty generic. But Shiver is one of the better products of the new batch of pictures inspired by films like The Sixth Sense and The Eye.

Over the past few years, Billy Chung has quietly made a name for himself as one of Hong Kong's more solid directors. His films are frankly never anything great, but they always seem to provide a good ninety minutes of entertainment, and his latest, Shiver, is no exception. It's not an outstanding movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it provides a few chills and some outstanding performances from the lead actors.

The plot has Athena Chu and Francis Ng as a married couple in crisis. Athena is tired of Francis' workaholic ways, and wants to divorce him. On the way to finalize the proceedings, a robbery breaks out, and Francis steps into the fray. He succeeds in stopping the felons, but Athena is shot in the process. Awaking after being in a coma, Athena starts to see strange premonitions (involving a ghost played by Tiffany Lee) that seem to tie into a serial killer investigation Francis is pursuing. Even though Athena's doctor (Nick Cheung) wants Francis to quit, he continues with the investigation, which leads to a revelation which shocks them both.

There aren't any major loads of gore or extreme shocks contained in here, though the plot twist at the end -- if a bit obvious -- is handled well. But Shiver is still a well-made and well-acted suspense/horror movie. Francis Ng does his usual good work, and Athena Chu is especially outstanding here. Along with Billy Chung's tight direction which always keeps things moving along at a tight clip, Shiver goes from what could have been just another Hong Kong ghost movie into something a little bit special and worth your time.

RATING: 7


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