News tips and press releases may be sent
to editor at hollywoodinvestigator.com.
All submissions become property of the Hollywood Investigator and
deemed for publication without compensation unless otherwise
requested. Name and contact information only withheld upon request.
Prospective reporters should research our
Bookstore.
by Thomas M. Sipos,
managing editor [May 20, 2023]
[HollywoodInvestigator.com]I've seen horror films from Japan, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong,
the Philippines, and even Singapore.
But never from Malaysia. So when I learned that Two Sisters
was from Malaysia, I did some research.
Malaysia turns out to be a fairly interesting place, beginning with
its curious geography -- check it out on a map. According to
Wikipedia, Malaysia is multiracial, multi-ethnic, majority Muslim, and
their dominant language is Malay. English is a recognized second
language.
Yet the dialog in Two Sisters is Mandarin. Why so? It seems
that 22.9% of Malaysia is ethnic Chinese, most of whom speak dialects
from southern China, such as Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hokkien. So
Two Sisters is a tale set within Malaysia's Chinese community.
(Okay, that doesn't have anything to do with horror, but I found the
film's cultural background interesting.)
As the title implies, Two Sisters is about two sisters: Mei
Xi (Emily Lim) and Mei Yue (Mei Fen Lim). In Chinese, family surnames
come first, so this is a story about the Mei sisters. (But I think
Emily is the actress's first name; sometimes they Anglify the order.)
Xi is a successful author. Yue is a bit mad, having spent the past
years in an asylum. But now the time has come for Yue to be released.
Xi dutifully picks up Yue and brings her to the family mansion, which
they co-own. Xi wants to sell it, but needs Yue's permission.
Some dark, tragic event (possibly supernatural) occurred to Yue when
she was a child, in a room that's still locked. Or did it? Only Yue
knows for sure, and Xi doesn't want to press the matter. Yue's mind is
still fragile, her memories scrambled. Xi just wants Yue to get better
and approve the sale of the house.
Two Sisters is a "slow burn," with long periods between
scares. Only a few of those, mostly of the "jump scare" variety (e.g.,
the sudden manifestation and disappearance of ghosts). Fewer still are
the quiet manifestations, such as a sheet slipping off a couch in the
background. Many furniture pieces are covered with sheets, allowing
for some creepy moments.
What's that lump under the sheet? A lamp or ... a human head?
Neither sister has lived here for years, hence the sheets. Their
parents died long ago. I guess they're wealthy enough not to have to
rent out the house.
Most of the film is the two sisters wandering about their mansion,
discussing their childhoods and their lives. What I call "domestic
horror." Eventually, things get very strange for Xi. She uncovers
shocking secrets and confronts painful truths. The twist ending is
well handled, but it's a twist that horror fans have seen many times
before.
Two Sisters is written and directed by James Lee, who does a
fine job handling the interplay between his actresses. I also admired
the use of color. Much of the film is in gauzy soft focus, the set
full of whites and soft pastels, with occasional intrusions of bright
red. This lends an ethereal "ghostly" feel to the film, while also
creating the sense of a person not firmly in touch with reality. Kudos
to cinematographer Teck Zee Tan, and art directors Fish Lim and
Brandden Low.
Two Sisters is intelligently written, well acted, and slickly
produced. Although it's from Malaysia, its style is similar to
J-horror, albeit less gory. But it's low on originality. Fans of slow
burn, talky, supernatural Asian horror will like it. Those looking for
stronger stuff and a faster pace might look elsewhere.
"Hollywood Investigator" and
"HollywoodInvestigator.com" and "Tabloid
Witch" and "Tabloid
Witch Award" trademarks are currently unregistered, but pending
registration upon need for protection against improper use. The idea of
marketing these terms as a commodity is a protected idea under the
Lanham Act. 15 U.S.C. s 1114(1) (1994) (defining a trademark
infringement claim when the plaintiff has a registered mark); 15 U.S.C.
s 1125(a) (1994) (defining an action for unfair competition in the
context of trademark infringement when the plaintiff holds an
unregistered mark). All content is copyright by
HollywoodInvestigator.com unless otherwise noted.
[HollywoodInvestigator.com]
