Diary

Charlene Choi is a schizophrenic woman obsessed with another man (played by Shawn Yue) in this film by director Oxide Pang. The condition of schizophrenia is given ample attention and the script is exceedingly well-written and complex. The visuals are dark with limited (yet effective) use of CGI to communicate important elements to the viewer. There are a lot of twists and turns within this originally structured storyline, but in the end they are all logical extensions when the film is studied and understood properly. This is one of the best horror films I've ever had the pleasure of watching.

If Gillian Chung had her breakthrough performance in Beyond Our Ken (2004), then Charlene Choi has now officially had her breakthrough performance in Diary (2006). She's practically unrecognizable from her previous roles. She's psychologically fragile, obsessive, desperate, subtle, and very unstable. In other words, she's fantastic.

The cinematography and settings are gorgeous, using a variety of techniques to create a dim, murky atmosphere. Some scenes are in black-and-white, while others are shot with restricted colors. The overall feel of the film reminded me of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's work, absent the ambient soundtrack - Oxide uses his trademark horror beats to great effect here. The limited CGI is very fantasy-like, which is interesting considering the fact that it occurs within an apartment. Basically, Diary is eye candy from minute one.

It is ironic that all of the great storytelling that was lacking from Re-Cycle (2006) has miraculously appeared in Diary. It's almost as if the Pangs decided to sacrifice the former for the latter, because Diary simply could not be written more effectively. It acts like a mystery that slowly reveals itself until the very last frame. There is a significant focus on character perspective and subjectivity that ultimately provides the driving force.

Most of the reviews I've read have been positive. However, some have taken issue with the structure that Oxide chose to use. Needless to say, it's wacked out and totally different than most movies. I don't want to get too specific, but all I will say is that I thought the movie had ended a number of times before it actually did. Fortunately, all of those "extra" scenes were the best parts. I personally think that the critics are misguided, since the weird format works very well.

Let's put it this way. I've seen over 130 East Asian horror films, and Diary ranks among the top 5.

Rating: A magnificent 5 out of 5.

This is the film that introduced me to the hot Charlene Choi from the Chinese pop duo TWINS. Fell in love with this film at first watch, and the twist at the end was the seal and approval. Charlene does a superb job in playing a disturbed and troubled character, a horror film at a slow pace, but with tension and edge-of-your-seat scary. If you like the original "The Eye" from the Pang Brothers, then you will enjoy this excellent film from Oxide Pang. The hot Charlene Choi being the lead in this already excellent film was the icing on the cake.

Understanding and following 'Diary' comes much easier than attempting to clearly explain it. The film delves into the world of a young lady whose recent break up has left her evidently uneasy, neurotic and insecure. These attributes are acted out in a great manner even while reading along with the subtitles. Throughout the movie, you feel different emotions toward the main character and thanks to the great story and the substance it provides, you are able to be drawn in close to the characters. The film is shot very nicely with great uses of flashbacks when needed and even an obscure flash back that takes you through a second phase of the movie.

While the movie, for me, is difficult to explain it is one that I really enjoyed watching and was able to follow. This for me signifies a successful and great film. It takes a dark, schizophrenic and insecure world and through its layered visions and immense angst, weaves a story that has you questioning what you're seeing and what you're believing.

To explain the film is beyond me and simply, there are plenty of movie and plot summaries out there. But as a movie, I think this is a very successful film and a great entry in the catalog of the Pang's. It is wonderfully shot, edited and produced nicely, with superb acting, an in-depth plot with enough uncertainty and twists to keep me satisfied and was truly an enjoyment to watch.