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THE MAID
ABOUT THE MOVIE

VCD (NIL)


Genre: Horror
Starring: Alessandra De Rossi, Chen Shu Cheng, Hong Hui Fang, Benny Soh
Director: Kelvin Tong
Rating: PG
Year Made: 2005

Languages: Mandarin, English & Dialects
Subtitles: English & Chinese
Running Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Distributor: Scorpio East Entertainment

 

SPECIAL FEATURES
 
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

Filipino maid, Rosa arrives to work in Singapore during the Lunar Seventh Month or the Hungry Ghost Festival- believed to be a time when the Hell gates open. Life turns into a nightmare when Rosa unwittingly breaks the rules of the Month, tumbling into the world of the dead and glimpsed strange apparitions at night. To keep her job, she has to stifle her screams and fear...

MOVIE REVIEW :

A far cry from the Japanese and Korean’s bizarre treatments of the horror genres, “The Maid” plays it straightforward and terrorised you with its clichéd but heart-pounding scare tactics. The inclusion of dialects and the touches on the infamous hungry ghost festival might have contributed to its success.

To the many Chinese and even the non-chinese in Singapore, tales of the seventh month are a common theme for ghostly tales and in addition, your parents will advise you not to go out too late or step into burning incense on the road especially during that month of the year. But to Rosa, a Filipino girl whose basic living necessity and brother’s live is at stake, these so-called tales are pretty much insignificant. Director Kelvin Tong has cleverly crafted an old ghostly tale from a foreigner’s point of view. With most shots confined inside an old, creaky shophouse, “The Maid” is infused beautifully with many intense atmospheric moments and the intentionally loud sound effects do have its merits here.

Award-winning actress Alessandra De Rossi is almost unrecognisable as she morphs into her role as the helpless Rosa. Television veterans Chen Shu Cheng and Hong Hui Fang are commendable in their roles as well. Benny Soh (who in real-life is holding a non-actor job in Mediacorp) shines in his debut performance as the retarded son.

For a local movie, the production values are pretty strong although some technicalities liked dialogue recording still needs much improvement. And the “Sixth Sense” inspired finale might turn some off. On the whole, “The Maid” is a good old-fashioned horror tale that is worthy of your time despite of the highlightened flaws. Enough of “One missed call” or “The Wig”, we have “The Maid” to make us wanting more. The last we heard, Hollywood is interested in securing the rights. They should title it as “The Re-Maid”.

MOVIE RATING:






Review by Linus Tee


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This review is made possible with the kind support from Scorpio East Entertainment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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