Visible Secret (2001)
"Youling renjian" (original title)

Urban tale of fantasies, genre greatly favoured by Hong-Kong cinematography, the latest movie of filmmaker Ann Hui combines elements of horror films with other comical aspects to offer an ... See full summary »

Director:

Ann Hui

Writer:

Kwang Abe

Stars:

Eason Chan, Qi Shu, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eason Chan	...	Peter Wong Choi
Qi Shu	...	June / Wong Siu-Kam
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang	...	Wong-Lin
Sam Lee	...	Simon
James Wong	...	Lo Kit
Yiu-Cheung Lai	...	Peter's brother (as Yiu-Hung Lai)
Kara Hui	...	Siu-Kam's Mother (as Ying-Hung Wai)
Tony Liu	...	Master Tsang (as Wing Lau)
Tat-Ming Cheung	...	Taxi Driver
Jo Kuk	...	Ghost on the subway (as Jo Koo)
Kelly Moo	...	Little June
Perry Chan	...	Dicky
Tiffany Lee	...	Carmen
Rashima Maheubani	...	Sue
Ho Fili	...	Fatso

Storyline

Urban tale of fantasies, genre greatly favoured by Hong-Kong cinematography, the latest movie of filmmaker Ann Hui combines elements of horror films with other comical aspects to offer an intriguing and terrifying work of great visual strength.

---

Plot Keywords:

title directed by female | cult | train | ghost

---

Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Fantasy

---

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Release Date:

1 June 2001 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Visible Secret

Box Office

Gross:

SGD 90,000 (Singapore) (8 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Class Limited, Media Asia Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by Youling renjian II: Gui wei ren jian (2002)

User Reviews

A Better Drama and Comedy than Ghost Story

The first thing you will notice about VISIBLE SECRET is its strange sensibilities. Even the film's rhythm is slightly "off", making it very different from the current rash of Hong Kong "I See Ghost" movies of late. Although the premise is overly familiar by now (Shu Qi plays a woman who can see ghosts -- but only with her left eye!), the movie works as an effective human drama (especially the lead's relationship with his brother and father) and as a quirky comedy (the movie is oftentimes very funny). As a ghost story, it falters badly, and there's a twist at the end that, if you weren't asleep during the previous 90 minutes, you can see coming about 50 miles away.

One other thing: VISIBLE SECRET has almost no scares in it. There are some attempts at mood and atmosphere, but for the most part the laughs and over-the-top hilarity overcomes the thrills and chills, which comes across as more mundane requisite than anything the filmmakers were interested in putting into their movie.

7 out of 10

(go to www.nixflix.com for a more detailed review of the film, and reviews of other movies in this genre)