Follow us on Twitter | Instagram
“Nu Gui” is the Chinese phrase for “female ghosts,” and according to lore, they are women who suffered wrongs during their lives and seek vengeance after death. They are certainly not like Casper, the friendly ghost. Created by Chaz Fenwick and Gustavo Diaz, the short horror film introduces their primary concept, setting up an interesting premise embedded in folklore.
Martina Chen portrays the titular character, Malice, a malevolent spirit relentless in haunting men and exacting revenge. Zheng Wei (Kent Lee) flees China to escape Malice’s wrath, but she follows him to Australia, making him pay in blood. However, he is not her only victim. The story unfolds with her haunting a group of university students, while a lady scholar attempts to investigate what the evil spirit wants. The film includes a lot of Mandarin, adding cultural weight to the tale.
The cinematography boasts a retro horror aesthetic, employing heavy use of red lighting that immediately reminded me of the 2020 Bollywood horror film “Bulbbul.” Interestingly, “Bulbbul” also deals with the theme of a wronged woman seeking retribution from erroneous men, but it delves deeper into issues of patriarchal violence, gender justice, and dysfunctional families. “Malice – Nu Gui,” on the other hand, focuses on lust, revenge, blood, screams, and scares.
Also Read: Kohrra Review – Slowburn blend of family drama & crime
While the story’s execution leaves a lot to be desired, with its 45-minute runtime, the movie kept me engaged until the end. Joshua Chan plays Lee, a young student who remains level-headed until his encounter with Malice, delivers a flawless and natural performance despite his limited screen time. Visually, Martina Chen fits perfectly into the femme-fatale role, although she fails to spook the audience as the part demands. Some of the other actors struggle with their roles and display palpable awkwardness while delivering their dialogues. For instance, in one of the climactic scenes, Yumi Kohama, who plays a character named Sakura, seemed to be holding back laughter during an intense moment.
Regardless, I still enjoyed watching this film, even though the climax felt a bit muddled. Check it out if you enjoy watching indie movies and have a soft corner for the horror genre.
You can watch the film on TubiTv and Amazon Prime Video.
Read Next: The Pope’s Exorcist – Movie Review