The Midnight After (2014)

Many people have expressed their opinions regarding the screenplay and director's intent regarding this mystery in Hong Kong. As someone who loves watching international movies to gain insights into other cultures, I was looking forward to watching this movie. I was pleasantly rewarded.I wouldn't say that the movie answers every question, or that the ending ties up everything in a neat bow. However, the acting ensemble is extremely good, and more than one viewpoint can be argued for threads throughout the film. It definitely provides insight into Hong Kong culture post-GB.Highly recommended.

This is not a bad movie.But it will make many people angry because nothing is answered.What I think actually happened in the movie is: The bus driver was distracted, he crashed into another truck carrying fuel. Many passengers are burned alive (the students, the husband, the impotent). Other passengers die from the impact instantly (Lavina). The rest of the passengers die from blood loss (red rain at the end), and they are taking the "mini bus" to the afterlife, which either Kwoloon or the mountain. The men in the masks and trucks are actually paramedics and ambulances, trying to save their lives.As they die, some of the passengers are reminencing about their loved ones, and regretting that they have to go. Although black comedy is woven throughout the film, I've never seen a movie that has made me feel so vividly:1) Creeping dread 2) Fear of inevitable death 3) Panic 4) Grief of losing a loved one.The acting is quite good, especially the leads.So my theory is that the movie is the director trying to replicate the feeling of David Bowie's "Space Oddity", which is about Major Tom who launches into space, loses control and contact with Ground Control and dies stranded in space, trying to send a last message to his wife that he loves her. Perhaps the same feeling as many of the characters feel as they lie dying from the crash.

The movie itself start off very mysterious and it maintains that mystery all through the end. And while I haven't read or seen the story this is based on, therefor cannot comment on similarities, I can say even from far away, that this movie loves analogies. And it dares its viewers to think and is not just an entertainment piece.While very violent and strangely funny at times, it will be hard to keep track of events if you don't keep up with it. The actors are all amazing and while dialog choices might feel benign and without meaning in general, I'm pretty sure you can get a lot from even the simplest exchange. The Hong Kong allegory and everything that comes with it (uncertainty and more) was not an easy thing to achieve. It's not being seen lightly upon making stories that are political or have a strong message. Which makes this movie even more powerful ... if you are into this thing. Obviously not everyone is, though try not to get personal, if you don't like a movie ... Tastes are different, especially when it comes to something that is artfully done, but maybe not your thing

I found this ambivalent film most annoying. If I were from Hong Kong, would I have gotten any more messages than I did as a foreigner? The first blow to this film is that the director and screenwriter do not know how to translate some serialized web stories into a coherent film. Without a coherent story and theme, no believability is established. Disbelief is not suspended, and exposed throughout. If a message is to be delivered, they have lost their audience right after the first 30 minutes. The audience simply gives up caring. Characters, supposed to be rich and various, do not matter to them, even with so many background stories laid down. The second blow is a real bad mix of suspense and humour. I feel like watching an unstable storyteller who can't keep his or her pace. One minute there is a hope, then another minute, dashed. The third point is an absolutely unnecessary length of over two hours. Too long of a half-cooked film turns the audience against it. Dialogue and sub-stories should have been made concise, and helped the flow of the storytelling. I have a feeling that director Fruit Chan must have written or re-written the script as he went along. Otherwise it would not look like a film made by a drunk. Hong Kong films are usually with certain standards. Their low-graded films are usually not so low. But this film by Fruit Chan is a few notches lower than the usual. Not recommended.