Re-cycle/ 鬼域

Re-cycle is one of those movies that are just waiting to be discovered. Starring Angelica Lee, an actress who has grown a loyal following since her excellent performance in The Eye, Re-cycle is a film that, although imperfect, proves to be an enjoyable affair. The Pang brothers have always directed films with flair and Re-cycle is no different. The camera work is sweeping and the tight control of each screen allows good story-telling to be done (whether the story is worth telling is often the real question with these guys).

The plot of Re-cycle involves Lee's character, who is a famous fiction author. While writing her new book about supernatural events surrounding a girl, she inexplicably starts to experience the phenomenon she writes about. Slowly, these events increase in intensity until one day she is sucked into a completely different world, the source of these supernatural events. What she finds on in this other world is unlike anything she's ever encountered. As she strives to leave this strange new place, she begins to learn more about the real world and herself.

Being a thriller at heart, Re-cycle does have some pretty good scares. These all fit inside the context of the plot and so are well-delivered. However, these scenes are not original and the overall cohesion of the film suffers from this use of seemingly regurgitated elements. In addition, the CG effects in the film are hit or miss, with some truly spectacular scenes alongside amateurish attempts. Some parts of the story do not add up, such as the resolution at the end of the film, which I'll leave unrevealed here.

Good horror/thriller films are always good to come by, since they are usual one-time affairs that provide no more than cheap thrills. Re-cycle avoids this characterization for the most part by infusing a deeper storyline. Despite its flaws, Re-cycle is a promising addition to any Asian scary movie collection. This might be just that movie you're looking for.

Pros: Good camera work. Blend of fantasy and reality. Some scary moments.
Cons: Very limited cast. Not original plot.
Conclusion: A solid film that will satisfy even if it does not impress.
Score: 3/5