The Coffin in the Mountain (2014) User Reviews

Surprising little gem of a mystery...

[lyx-1 · 8/10 · 28 August 2016]

This little gem of a movie takes place in rural China revolving round several complex relationships and families linked together by the death of an unlikable thug who is also the key connector of what goes on in these separate families.

Beyond the central mystery of the coffin, the various stories of the families unfold in a non-linear fashion, forward and back in time, the characters of each family impacting the fate of another in intriguing ways.

Unlike many Asian movies that rush into the popular "mystery" genre, the film is replete with twists and turns that manage to be intelligently coherent, the ends all tie together, the audience slowly grasps the bigger picture and its resolution is immensely satisfying.

The script is very good

[yoggwork · 9/10 · 19 February 2019]

The script is very solid, and it is one of the few conscience works in China. Not complicated events, through three lines, show the different performance of different people. The plots of each line are full, and there is a clear time point between them. The performances were simple, but the defect was that the score was too stingy. Personally, I think we have found a good balance between literature, art and commerce, which is neither noisy nor dull. Unfortunately, it is obvious that the publicity budget can not keep up with the box office can not reflect the quality.

Looks like a excellent student work

[c-49479 · 7/10 · 12 January 2019]

Like the vicar's egg,just like an excellent student work with a high degree of completion. The polished script is the biggest highlight, in addition, the music, performance and camera language are not mature, which need to be improved.

A slyly clever yet oddly moving absurdist farce disguised as dark melodrama..

[jorgebenavides-95736 · 9/10 · 16 May 2022]

This ingeniously designed film skillfully weaves a dizzying array of intersecting storylines to create a wholly original absurdist farce that almost imperceptibly accomplishes yet which so many dark comedies rarely achieve, to both entertain and most unexpectedly deeply move their audience. The films Chinese rural backdrop comes alive with the exasperated comings and goings of its artfully delineated denizens, providing a fresh and inviting peek into a vibrant community of compelling characters we often aren't privileged enough to witness on screen. Daringly Complex, original and full of life, I found myself wholly satisfied yet greedily anticipating even more from this gem of a film as the concluding credits began to roll.

Is there something that needs to be asked?

[rickiesoper · 9/10 · 25 January 2024]

"Is there something that needs to be asked? Not asking is pressing on his heart for a lifetime; once asked, this stone is pressing on your heart." Praise the narrative structure, which mixes the past with the present and the future, with multiple perspectives overlapping and chain reactions, and finally perfectly connected... There is no unnecessary plot, absurd irony, ingenuity, twists and turns, and twists and turns. Many screenwriting enthusiasts have a Quentin/Ritchie/Cohen style crime story in their minds, and some stories may never be fully conceived. At least this movie aligns every puzzle piece, and it's very Chinese. In Chinese movies, police officers are often absent in many places, but at critical moments, Chinese characters are used on the screen to remind the audience of their high-energy presence.

Everybody has secrets

[joshywhatheck · 9/10 · 26 April 2022]

The other reviewers on here have basically said what's important--intelligent script, great ending, and all in all a fantastic watch.

Through the movie, we get to see the various secrets, motivations, and unique traits that belong to each and every character in the film. Character development is something that is so often overlooked in films, and this one does it perfectly. No questions left unanswered by the end of the film.