RIGOR MORTIS starts off well enough, with television actor Yau checking into the kind of hotel you don't check OUT of, but it quickly becomes somewhat confusing and, ultimately, disappointing. We've seen this kind of story a thousand times, now: from the Ambrose Beirce short story that was the basis of the black and white, Award-winning French short that appeared on THE TWILIGHT ZONE as AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE to THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI to CARNIVAL OF SOULS to JACOB'S LADDER and everything in between. The one thing that RIGOR MORTIS DOES add to the lexicon of Asian fright films is a great take on the "hopping vampire" myth: we see the old man, Yung, hopping in slow motion and the scenes appear to have been shot underwater- a great touch that lends the creature its own unique feel (though the hopping vampires in LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES- also shot in slow motion- were interesting, as well). The all-too-familiar ending isn't really PREDICTABLE until the end credits roll (if you follow)- but it IS disappointing and does nothing to justify the long, drawn out story.
Review of Rigor Mortis
