Released at a time when theaters were flooded with horror films from domestic to international, “Soul Eater” still captures the affection of the audience. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by writer Thao Trang, released online simultaneously. “Soul Eater” tells the stories that took place during the time of Mrs. Phong – the grandmother of Mr. Thap in her youth. Especially, it reveals the origin of the ancient art of Human Skull Wine, a type of alcohol that can immerse any villager in Hell Village in its demonic power.
“Soul Eater” is brought to life by the hands of the producer Hoang Quan – director Tran Huu Tan, the duo specializing in horror films. Their recent work is “Tet in Hell Village,” a series that caused a sensation in recent months and gathered a huge fan base. “Soul Eater” also takes place in the same universe as “Tet in Hell Village,” set a few decades before the events in the series. At this time, Mrs. Phong (Mr. Thap’s grandmother) is still young and is called Miss Phong (Hoang Ha). After the wedding of Miss Phong and Mr. Sang (Gia Huy), the village witnesses consecutive gruesome deaths, even more terrifying as each person loses a body part.
Here are 5 reasons why you should go to the cinema to watch “Soul Eater”!
If you are already a fan of “Tet in Hell Village,” the audience will also love “Soul Eater” because they share the same creator. Thao Trang – the author of the “Tet in Hell Village” series – is also the scriptwriter for “Soul Eater.” The film delves into the secrets of the past of this village, explaining why the villagers are not allowed to go down the mountain all year round and the legend of blood-sweating that haunts the people in the village. It turns out that a few decades ago, this village had some equally terrifying stories that are only revealed now.
“Soul Eater” won’t make you hesitate too much because for those who have already “fallen in love” with the “Tet in Hell Village” series, you cannot overlook a film belonging to the “Hell Village” universe with upgraded visuals. Moreover, this is one of the rare films that brings together actors from both the North and the South, with notable performances from Lan Phuong, causing shivers with scenes of a mad cow covered in blood, Hoang Ha transforming in a painful way, veteran actor Chieu Xuan looking pitiful with a fate-filled character, Vo Dien Gia Huy surprising in his first historical role, Huynh Thanh Truc elevating the acting level, and more.
The film also astonishes the audience with the majestic beauty of the mountains in Ha Giang, pleasing the eyes with a rich Vietnamese cultural essence, unique folk materials such as the boat carrying spirits, firefly-catching, and the mouse wedding, which are extensively used in the film. The objects and decorative patterns are meticulously researched and inspired by various regions.
“A score of ten” for dedication and effort
It can be said that “Soul Eater” puts a lot of effort into providing a complete movie-watching experience for the audience, bringing hundreds of people to extremely harsh shooting locations with “3 no’s: no electricity, no water, no accommodation” but still striving to complete it for the audience. There are no negative points in terms of costumes, with hundreds of outfits based on Vietnamese traditional costumes such as giao linh, tu than, ngu than, and doi kham. Throughout the filming process, there was a historical consultant and a costume advisor accompanying closely to ensure authenticity. The makeup department also deserves praise as all the sweat and blood scenes were handcrafted on the actors’ skin. Especially, the transformation of the character Thap Nuong took many consecutive hours to create the intensely haunting “max level” demonic appearance.
Not outstanding but complete
Music is a major plus point of the film, making the intense scenes more attractive and captivating, especially those towards the end. There are a few moments that are not exceptionally good, such as a somewhat slow pace in the middle of the film, but it quickly regains momentum at the finish line, accelerating and showcasing the “breakthrough” performances of the actors, notably Thap Nuong (Lan Phuong), Miss Phong (Hoang Ha), and Mr. Sang (Gia Huy).
The ending may leave many viewers puzzled; it is known that “Soul Eater” narrates the past life of Mr. Thap in “Tet in Hell Village,” but why does Thap Nuong disappear in “Soul Eater” only to reappear openly in Hell Village, continuing to curse the next generation? Does Thap Nuong really vanish? Is she perhaps in need of time to regain strength after being enchanted by firefly spirits? Perhaps the audience has to answer these questions themselves.
“Soul Eater” is a potential film as it explores the folk cultural stories of Vietnam, which are familiar but create authentic fears with a high native content for the Vietnamese people. After this film, it is certain that horror themes derived from folk culture will be “on trend” and become a craze in the coming time.
