Silk (2006) Gui si (original title)

Director:

Chao-Bin Su

Writer:

Chao-Bin Su (written by)

Release Date:

28 September 2006 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The World's First Caught Spirit.

Plot:

In Taipei, the crippled scientist Hashimoto uses his invention of "Menger Sponge" to capture the energy of the spirit of a child in an old building...

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | Boy | Spirit | Death | Ghost Child

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Chen Chang	...	Tung
Yôsuke Eguchi	...	Hashimoto (as Yosuke Eguchi)
Kar Yan Lam	...	Wei (as Karena Lam)
Barbie Hsu	...	Su
Bo-lin Chen	...	Ren (as Po-Lin Chen)
Chun-Ning Chang	...	Mei
Fang Wan	...	Ghost Mother (as Wan Fan)
Kuan-Po Chen	...	Ghost Child
Chi Chin Ma	...	Tung's Mother (as Chih-Chin Ma)
Leon Dai	...	SWAT Leader
Kevin S. Smith	...	James
Masane Tsukayama	...	Director (as Tsukayama Masane)
Kouhei Masiba	...	Assistant to Director (as Masiba Kouhei)
Teddy Chan	...	Father
Chiao-Ju Hsu	...	Daughter
Pinky Juan	...	Teacher (as Wen-Ping Juan)
Tung-Lin Shih	...	Drunk Man
Pong-Fong Wu	...	Bomb Squad A (as Peng-Feng Wu)
Jian-wei Huang	...	Bomb Squad B (as Chien-wei Huang)
Ting-Ni Ma	...	Doctor A
Yuan-Liang An	...	Doctor B
Hao-Chin Peng	...	Man on the Bus
Ching-ting Hsia	...	Policeman A
Chun-hao Tuan	...	Policeman B
Arthur Wong	...	Sheriff
Chi-Tu Wang	...	Policeman
Ching-Ke Pan	...	Bus Driver
Anko	...	SWAT Team
Wen-Chieh Huang	...	SWAT Team
Chun-Yuan Weng	...	SWAT Team
Chien-Ting Wu	...	SWAT Team
Po-Tsun Lin	...	SWAT Team
Hsin-Hung Wang	...	SWAT Team
Han-Ying Yu	...	SWAT Team
Chun-Ping Wang	...	SWAT Team (as Chun-Pin Weng)
Keng-Lin Tsai	...	SWAT Team
Ta-Yu Lin	...	SWAT Team
Po-An Su	...	SWAT Team
Yao-Ming Chen	...	SWAT Team
Pen-Pang Ha	...	SWAT Team
Keng-Cheng Li	...	SWAT Team
Chen-Hui Chi	...	SWAT Team
Chen-Hui Yeh Hsieh	...	SWAT Team

Directed by
Chao-Bin Su		(as Chao-Pin Su)

Writing credits
Chao-Bin Su		(written by) (as Chao-Pin Su)

Produced by
Chih-ming Huang	....	executive producer (as Jimmy Huang)
Chin-Wen Huang	....	executive producer
Yeh Jufeng	....	associate producer (as Ju-Feng Yeh)
David Tang	....	associate producer
Ming Tu	....	producer

Original Music by
Peter Kam

Cinematography by
Arthur Wong		(as Arthur Wong Ngok Tai)

Film Editing by
Ka-Fai Cheung		(as Kai-Fai Cheung)

Casting by
Shou-Luan Lee

Production Design by
Yohei Taneda

Art Direction by
Po-Jen Chen
Ryo Sugimoto

Set Decoration by
Yoshihito Akatsuka

Costume Design by
Pik Kwan Lee

Makeup Department
Grant Biffin	....	special makeup effects artist
Katherine Brown	....	special makeup effects artist
Yi Chen	....	makeup artist
Kylie Clarke	....	special makeup effects artist
Gab Facchinei	....	special makeup effects artist
Paul Katte	....	special makeup effects designer
Stone Lin	....	hair stylist
Tom Lin	....	hair stylist
Nick Nicolaou	....	special makeup effects designer
Luke Polti	....	special makeup effects artist
John Robinson	....	special makeup effects artist
Marcel Tobar	....	special makeup effects artist
Yen-Ching Tsai	....	special makeup
Hui-Ching Tu	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Leo Chen	....	unit production manager
Kuo-Hsuan Chou	....	assistant unit manager
Yung-Chu Hsu	....	assistant unit manager
Kuo-Yuan Kuo	....	assistant unit manager
Tzu-Chuan Li	....	assistant unit manager
Kenny Shiu	....	production manager
Tai-Chi Su	....	assistant unit manager
Wei-Liou Wong	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Je-Yi An	....	first assistant director
Han Chang	....	second assistant director
Guan-Ming Chen	....	first assistant director
Fang-Wei Hao	....	second assistant director
Harada Yuuki	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Kuang-Ching Chen	....	props
Yung-Chih Chen	....	props
Kuan-Yu Chou	....	assistant art director
Shao-Wei Chou	....	storyboard artist
Nimura Hitomi	....	props
Shi-Chuan Ho	....	construction coordinator
Ming-Wei Hsu	....	props
Chin Lai	....	construction coordinator
Yi-Jong Lai	....	construction coordinator
Chin-Yang Lee	....	construction coordinator
Yao-Hsing Li	....	props
Yu-Fang Li	....	props
Wen-Ling Liao	....	assistant art director
Kuo-He Lin	....	construction coordinator
Megen Lin	....	props
Si-Chan Lin	....	construction coordinator
Wen-Chin Lo	....	assistant art director
Te-wei Tai	....	props
Momose Tatsuo	....	painter
Masuda Tsuyoshi	....	painter
Tzu-Hsin Wang	....	assistant art director
Jo-Chun Wu	....	props

Sound Department
Varavudh Buranasilpin	....	sound transfer department manager: Technicolor Creative Services, Thailand
Steve Burgess	....	sound designer
Steve Burgess	....	sound mixer
Cheng-Yi Hsu	....	boom operator
Paitoon Jermmora	....	optical sound transfer: Technicolor Creative Services, Thailand (as Pitoon Jermmora)
Li-Tzi Kuo	....	sound
Robert Mackenzie	....	sound designer (as Rob Mackenzie)
Robert Mackenzie	....	sound mixer (as Rob Mackenzie)
Paul Pirola	....	sound designer
Paul Pirola	....	sound mixer
Du-Che Tu	....	sound editor (as Duu-Chih Tu)
Tse Kang Tu	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Tiger Cao	....	computer animator: Menfond
Angus Chan	....	computer animator: Menfond
Fio Chan	....	computer animator: Menfond
Jeff Chan	....	computer animator: Menfond
Miranda Chan	....	computer animator: Menfond
Feng-Seng Chen	....	computer animator: Menfond
Ruxing Chen	....	senior computer animator: Menfond
Shuntao Deng	....	computer animator: Menfond
Huang Fei	....	senior computer animator: Menfond (as Fei Huang)
Sing-Choong Foo	....	visual effects supervisor
Francis Fung	....	visual effects editor
Jun He	....	computer animator: Menfond
Zero He	....	computer animator: Menfond
Hin Pu Ho	....	senior computer animator: Menfond (as Hin-Pun Ho)
Kim Ho	....	computer animator: Menfond
Aidy Hong	....	senior computer animator: Menfond
Jean Hou	....	visual effects coordinator
Kelvin Hou	....	senior computer animator: Menfond
Brenda Huang	....	senior computer animator: Menfond
Wing Yan Lai	....	visual effects editor (as Lai Wing Yan)
Chi Hang Lau	....	computer animator: Menfond
Sting Lau	....	computer animator: Menfond
Keith Leung	....	senior computer animator: Menfond
Cons Li	....	visual effects coordinator
Qianghua Liang	....	senior computer animator: Menfond (as Qinghua Liang)
Weijian Lin	....	senior computer animator: Menfond
Rayson Mo	....	senior computer animator: Menfond
Eric Ng	....	computer animator: Menfond
Joey Ng	....	senior computer animator: Menfond
Sandy Poon	....	visual effects coordinator
Zhiming Sheng	....	senior computer animator: Menfond
Sam Sun	....	computer animator: Menfond (as Sam Suen)
Jiajun Tang	....	senior computer animator: Menfond
Randy Tse	....	visual effects supervisor: Menfond
Yi Man Tse	....	senior computer animator: Menfond (as E-Man Tse)
Angel Tsui	....	computer animator: Menfond
Silvia Wan	....	computer animator: Menfond
Chi Kit Wong	....	computer animator: Menfond
Eddy Wong	....	visual effects supervisor: Menfond
Victor Wong	....	visual effects supervisor: Menfond
Daniel Wu	....	computer animator: Menfond
Jimmy Wu	....	computer animator: Menfond
Shelley Wu	....	senior computer animator: Menfond
Wesley Ye	....	computer animator: Menfond
Emil Yeung	....	computer animator: Menfond
Mark Joey Tang	....	compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Chung-Tai Chen	....	stunts
Shih-Teng Chen	....	stunts
Kuo-Liang Cheng	....	stunts
Te-Sheng Chien	....	car stunts
Ke-Feng Chu	....	car stunt coordinator
Shih-Feng Jia	....	stunts
Ta-Yu Tseng	....	car stunts
Wei Tung	....	action choreographer (as Stephen Tung Wai)

Camera and Electrical Department
Saeed Adyani	....	still photographer
Chor Keung Chan	....	focus puller
His-Ming Chang	....	camera assistant
Meng-Hung Chen	....	electrician
En-Chieh Cheu	....	electrician
Lam Chow	....	gaffer
Kwok Wai Fung	....	dollyman
Shan-Ping Han	....	electrician
Chu-Ming Hsu	....	electrician
Yi-Sheng Huang	....	camera assistant
Chun-Yu Lai	....	video assist
Chi-Wei Li	....	best boy electric
Tsun-Hsiao Li	....	camera assistant
Tsan-Liang Liang	....	still photographer
Chih-Hua Lin	....	electrician
Wen-Hsiang Lin	....	electrician
Chih-Hui Liu	....	electrician
Ching-Shin Lui	....	best boy electric
Jimmy Wong	....	camera operator (as Kam-Shen Wong)
Jimmy Wong	....	steadicam operator (as Kam-Shen Wong)
Chang-Ping Yang	....	electrician
Ming-Jen Yang	....	electrician
Wen-Chi Yang	....	camera assistant

Casting Department
Wen-Ling Lai	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ping-Lan Chen	....	wardrobe
Connie	....	wardrobe
Wan-yi Lo	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Cine Chang	....	telecine transfer
Mei-Hsin Chang	....	data on-line
Naxi Chao	....	editing assistant
Chien-Ping Chen	....	data on-line
Monique Chen	....	negative cutter
Miao-Jung Chiang	....	negative cutter
Szu-Yi Chu	....	color grader
Szu-Yi Chu	....	digital processing
Szu-Yi Chu	....	film recordist
Szu-Yi Chu	....	scanning
Tony Hu	....	post-production consultant
Hsiao-Yun Ku	....	editing assistant
Chang-Hsien Lee	....	data on-line
Chen-Hong Lin	....	editing assistant
Tsung-Yang Wu	....	telecine transfer

Transportation Department
Chih-Cheng Chang	....	driver
Wei-Sen Chen	....	driver
Tseng-Chuan Hu	....	driver
Tung-Kuang Huang	....	driver
Po-Chang Lin	....	driver
Yi-Sheng Man	....	driver

Other crew
Wei-Ta Chang	....	production assistant
Quei-Wei Chen	....	location manager
Tung-Yang Chen	....	production assistant
Yi-Shan Chen	....	japanese interpreter
Vigo Fan	....	japanese interpreter
Osaka Fumiko	....	japanese interpreter
Osaka Fumiko	....	script translator: japanese
Dorian Huang	....	end titles
Ying-Yi Li	....	production accountant
Joseph Liao	....	publicist
Chun-Chien Lien	....	title designer
Yi-chi Lien	....	location manager
Pei-Chen Lin	....	production assistant
Ko-Ko Maeda	....	interpreter: Yosuke Eguchi
Milk	....	making-of
Dwight Sung	....	script translator: english
Thomas Tang	....	interpreter: Yosuke Eguchi
Wei-Han Ting	....	production assistant
Chia-Lung Tsai	....	production assistant
Brian Tsen	....	title designer
Wen Hsuan Tseng	....	script supervisor (as Wen-Jui Tseng)
Chen-Mei Wang	....	production accountant
Xiao-Chi Wang	....	production accountant
Ming Ying Wu	....	financial controller
Liu Yang	....	assistant to executive producer
Che-li Yi	....	japanese interpreter
Kim-Fai Yu	....	fire arms

Production Companies

• CMC Entertainment
• Unit 9 Pictures

Distributors

• Deltamac Entertainment (2006) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox (2006) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Alfa Filmes (2006) (Brazil) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Splendid Film (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Tiglon (2006) (Turkey) (all media)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Makeup Effects Group Studio
• Menfond Electronic Art & Computer Design Company

Other Companies

• Taipei Motion Picture  digital intermediate
• Taipei Motion Picture  film processing
• Technicolor Creative Services  optical sound transfer

Also Known As:

"Gui si" - Taiwan (original title)

Runtime:

Taiwan:108 min

Country:

Taiwan

Language:

Hokkien | English | Japanese | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (edited version) | Malaysia:18SG | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-15 | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Taipei City, Taiwan

Company:

CMC Entertainment

Trivia:

The director, Chao-Bin Su is also co-starring as the guard in front of the isolated flat.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Tung finds the body of the boy, the body is in near-perfect condition, when it should have rotted.

Movie Connections:

References Mo fa a ma (2000)

More than a horror movie

Silk is one of the more heavily invested horror movies to come out of Taiwan lately. One brief look at the illustrious cast--Yōsuke Eguchi, Chang Chen, Karena Lam, Barbie Hsu (better known in Asia as Big S), Bo-Lin Chen--convinced me that Director ChaoBin Su had grand plans. Yōsuke Eguchi, Chang Chen, Karena Lam, are praised for their acting, while the remaining came to fame via idol dramas that require mostly pretty faces and good packaging. Thus, whether by intention or design, B0-Lin Chen left out no potential audience. The first category would attract viewers who value nuances and depth, while the second draws worshiping, screaming fans to the theaters.

In the movie, crippled Japanese scientist Hashimoto (played by Yōsuke Eguchi) heads a research team whose nominal work is in anti-gravity ""Menger Sponge." In reality, the research direction derailed once Hashimoto realized that the sponge can confine ghosts as well as allow the living to see the dead. To uncover secrets of life after death, the team captures the spirit of a young boy and drafts special agent Ye Qidong (Chen Chang) to find out his identity and cause of death.

The film is often times fraught with tension and suspense. The boy's mysterious past and even more mysterious death greatly complicate Ye's investigation. The special agent found himself at odds not only with the forces that made the ghost child but also with others on the research team, as differing motives cause members to fight one another for the possession of the young ghost. Together, the supernatural conflict and the more secular disunity give Silk depth uncommon in normal horror movies. Rather than non-stop exploitation of gore or cheap scares, the movie offers pensive reflections on life and death.

Obviously, Gui Si's premise is more involved than the typical horror movies on the market. In addition to an original plot line, Sci-fi elements combined with traditional spirit lore puts a new spin on the familiar ghost story. Although this mix-and-mesh is refreshing, jumps in logic are present. For example, the failure to convincingly explain how living transforms into ghost made an otherwise touching ending appear like a deliberate move to manipulate tears from the viewers. Some of the lackluster ghost scenes also detracted from the latter half of the movie, looking rather like washed-down parts from The Ring.

In all, Silk is a solid production that, because of some details, failed to become great. As a side-note, I also found the casting interesting. The amount of the time that each actor spent in the movie and his/her relative importance to the entire story is totally commensurate with the public perception of their acting skills.