Missing

a staggering mix of romance, horror and fantasy, elevated yet anti elevated at the same time? hopeful yet tragic, tsui hark's missing is an absolute masterpiece and if this is one of his "lesser films" then i can't wait for the better ones because this is already one of the best films i have ever seen. starting off as a horror movie, and then settling down into a melodrama in the second half, the tonal shift is jarring but both portions work in their own ways. The first is a tragic and rather horrifying journey as Jing tries to come to terms with her lover's passing while being tormented by spirits. The horror sequences were genuinely terrifying and relied on the unexplainable experience of witnessing spirits as the scare over a cheap jumpscare and it works so well. The second half is so earnest and full of heart that I could not believe that it was poorly received by most, it does change up the tone of the film but in doing so it completely adds several new layers & perspectives to an already interesting narrative, the final 15 minutes hit me with so many emotions that i felt like i was down there with them in the ocean currents i would let myself burn if it meant i could hold my lover one last time