This movie is available for purchase at www.edaymovie.com

Rating:

6.5

Year of release: 2005

Genre: suspense

Director: Soi Cheang

Action director: Wu Chi Lung

Producers: Lawrence Cheng, Stanley Tong, Bernice Chan

Writers: Szeto Kam, Tang Lik Kei

Cinematography: Wong Wing Hang

Editor: Angie Lam

Music: Tommy Wai, Raymond Wong

Stars: Hsu Chi, Karena Lam, Cheang Pou Soi, Alex Fong, Lam Suet

Rated IIB for violence and disturbing imagery

DVD Information

Company: Tai Seng

Format: widescreen

Languages: Cantonese, Mandarin

Subtitles: English, Chinese

Extras: trailers, making-of featurette, photo gallery, data bank, "drama" version (adds in deleted scenes)

Notes: This is exactly the same as the Mei Ah disc -- overall, a pretty solid DVD, even if a trailer that you can't skip automatically plays when you put in the disc.

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Home Sweet Home

In Home Sweet Home, Hsu Chi and Alex Fong play a successful couple who have just moved into a swank new condo. As soon as they move in, a series of mysterious events occur, which culminates in the disappearance of their child. While trying to prove to the police (led by Lam Suet) that she's not crazy, Hsu uncovers a secret involving one of the building's former tenants (Karena Lam) that will lead her down a dark and twisted road in order to save her son.

At first blush, Home Sweet Home seems to be your standard Hong Kong "I see dead people" ghost movie. But director Soi Cheang has crafted a fresh take on the genre. The story is suitably different enough to set apart from similar films, and the solid acting (especially from Karena Lam, who is unrecognizable for the most part behind some fairly hideous makeup) give the story (and film as a whole) some added weight. There's even a bit of gore as well.

Still, I was left a little underwhelmed by Home Sweet Home. I can't exactly put my finger on exactly why -- perhaps I've just seen too many HK horror movies lately and I've become a bit too jaded towards the genre. Even so, most HK horror/suspense fans should have a pretty good time with this entry, even if this particular reviewer didn't find it all that scary.