An Exercise In Nonsense

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

When I finished watching "Red Nights", I did something that I very rarely (maybe once a year, if that) do: I threw the DVD in the trash can. I just did not want to have this movie as part of my collection anymore. It is made with a certain sense of style, the performances are competent, the culture mix (France - Hong Kong) is intriguing and at first the film appears to be creatively kinky. But as it goes on you're beginning to realize that there is really no plot and no point here - it's just an exercise in cruel, sadomasochistic violence. Characters to whom you've invested viewing time get unceremoniously dispatched for nothing more than shock value, and the film devolves into a cat-and-mouse game about the survival of the sickest. For torture porn fans only. * out of 4.

This is a Hong Kong, French and Belgium flick. Just look at the last country, Amer was also coming out of that country and let that be a giallo. I can say the same of Red Nights, it is also a giallo. You love it or you hate it, that's all I can say from giallo's, most of them aren't my cup of tea but this has some extra milk to pour on my tea. It all takes place in Hong Kong and here you will have some extra's on part of Asian movements of hands and rituals. The way it was shot is a pure ode to the old Italian giallo's, the colours are very brightly and the use of some extra green lighting here and there adds toward that feeling. Naturally we do have a glove, a thing that is necessary in a giallo and the nudity.The acting is sublime but that lays in the fact of Carrie Ng who we knew from Naked Killer (1992) and Fréderique Bel. Both are known in their own country but I would also praise a newcomer, Carole Brana. I have heard people complaining about the fact that the story doesn't have anything to offer but that wasn't the case for me. There are a few surprises in it. On the horror factor it also deliver, there are a few gory shots and they also added some bondage to it. I wouldn't recommend it to the feint hearted because the opening scene were a full frontal nude Asian chick is covered with latex gives you a weird feeling. The torturing isn't for everybody too, some things are rather gory. If you like for example Takashi Miike flicks then you will love this one too. Another giallo gem coming from Belgium with a sweet Asian overtone. I was surprised with it.Gore 3/5 Nudity 2/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5

I just watched it in Fantasporto Film Festival 2011. Wow! The relations between the women are stunningly wicked and the images of the film are beautifully disturbing. Killing people softly but till death do they part! It is such a revolutionary film, never seen anything like it before! If you watch it with a conservative mind and try to put it in any existing frame of genres in cinema, you will be lost. Because this movie is obvious an exploration of new sensations in cinema. A challenge in moral and an escape in reality, this movie is a crossover of love and death, modern and ancient, beauty and fear. Try to watch it with an open mind and you will be surprised how it drills in your heart. Love it!!!

I just got back from this film, as it was screening at the Stockholm Film Festival. Going into it I had no idea what to expect, and the first 20 minutes of the film are not bad, and even give the illusion that the film might be about something or involve an unraveling mystery of some sort with suspense and layers and that sort of thing, you know, content. Nope. The movie is just about a box from ancient times containing an ancient poison, and everyone wants this (can't imagine why) and is ready to tear each other to pieces over it. The film climaxes with an excessively gory torture scene that goes on for a very long time. Absolutely nothing here, if I could go back in time I'd give it a miss and select a movie with content.On the bright side . . . the movie looks very good. It is well shot.