FANTASIA 2020: Legally Declared Dead
fantasiaYuen Kim-Wai's sophomore effort Legally Declared Dead is a solid piece of genre cinema that explores the depths of its genre to a sufficiently strong degree but burdens itself in a murky narrative.
Unquestionably, Legally Declared Dead is a genre piece. In fact, it wears such a patch like a badge of honour throughout its running time. It is a film that unabashedly knows precisely what it is and never oversteps its mark regarding its target audience.
The iconography present is quite impressive in its execution. Eerie and haunting, most definitely; how it elicits mood and tension is palpable to behold and be immersed within this story. The cinematography from Ronnie Ching, while often grey and overly dark to covey its point, is enticing and rough. There is only slight issues with it being too overly conscious of communicating said point at times.
Regarding imagery, for the most part, Yuen Kim-Wai uses such symbolism as mysticism to create atmosphere but, sadly, the film loses its traction and mystery in its last act with a more on-the-nose approach. A decision that fizzles the level of engagement out to a near diluted level of interest.
Yuen Kim-Wai and editor Chung Kim-Wai implement a solid and engaging edit. However, there is only one occasion in which the film differs and inter contextualises itself to reveal its murder mystery. It is Legally Declared Dead's most significant, jarring moment that the feature benefits. However, due to its one and done momentum, it undoubtedly feels out of place.
That being said, even with its slowly but surely silly plot, Legally Declared Dead falls slightly flat with its characters. Before long, the narrative on offer – though beginning as a supernatural mystery – soon turns into a dull and predictable existence, an element that turns even more sour when the audience who have been immersed for the most part are given nothing for their time.
Regarding its characters – aside from the villains of the piece – the feature fails to inject any form of engagement and care towards its protagonists. Anthony Wong is undoubtedly the highlight and performance that spectacularly crafts the most intense and frightening of convictions. Aside from Wong, nobody can touch that level of talent, nor do they have the material to add anything but one-note depth.
The only thing that really saves Legally Declared Dead from being an underwhelming bore is the horror on offer and Anthony Wong. However, it is the nothingness that surrounds the two that sinks this feature to the ground — a sorry state of affairs with the potential this feature had.
