The Midnight After

The Midnight After
Directed by Fruit Chan
Produced by Amy Chin[1]
Written by
  • Chan Fai-hung
  • Kong Ho-yan[1]
Starring Wong You-nam
Janice Man
Simon Yam
Kara Hui
Lam Suet
Chui Tien-you
Cheuk Wan-chi
Lee Sheung-ching
Sam Lee
Jan Curious
Music by
Cinematography Lam Wah-chuen[1]
Edited by
Production
company
The Midnight After Film
One Ninety Films
Distributed by Golden Scene
Release dates
  • 7 February 2014 (BIFF)
  • 10 April 2014 (Hong Kong[2])
Running time
 124 min[1]
Country Hong Kong[1]
Language Cantonese
Budget HK$15 million[3]
Box office HK$21,202,240[4]

The Midnight After (Chinese: 那夜凌晨，我坐上了旺角開往大埔的紅van; literally: "That midnight, I got on a red public light bus that headed from Mong Kok to Tai Po") is a 2014 Hong Kong satirical horror comedy film directed by Fruit Chan and starring Wong You-nam, Janice Man, Simon Yam, Kara Hui, Lam Suet, Chui Tien-you, Cheuk Wan-chi, Lee Sheung-ching, Sam Lee and Jan Curious. The film is based on the web-novel, Lost on a Red Mini Bus to Taipo by the 25-year-old Hong Kong writer nicknamed "Mr. Pizza" from the Internet forum HKGolden.[5][6] It was first serialized online from February to July 2012 and then published in book form in July 2012.[1]

The film had its world premiere at the Panorama section of the 64th Berlin International Film Festival on 7 February 2014.[1][7]

Cast

Release

The Midnight After premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on 7 February 2014.[1]

Reception

Film Business Asia gave the film a seven out of ten rating, referring to it as "an intensely local but exhilarating comedy-horror that shows Chan firing on all pistons with his indie energy of old."[1] The review also noted that "Some of the dialogue, especially in the second half, starts to needlessly slow the film and could profitably be trimmed with no loss of detail — as in the movie's most blackly comic section when the group turns on a member with grisly results.".[1]

Taipei Trends described it as "The immense contrast and ridiculously inappropriate reactions from the characters to what is going on around them, as well as the strong personalities from each of them really sets the mood in a good way."[8] However, it also added that "While the film continues to entertain, it soon becomes apparent that none of the mysteries that have been built-up will ever be answered."

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 Elley, Derek (8 February 2014). "The Midnight After". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "MCLCINEMA.COM". mclcinema.com. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "新一代“纯港片”的独立风景". 南都娱乐周刊 (in Chinese). 2013-08-30. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  4. ↑ "May 29–June 1, 2014". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  5. ↑ "《蘋果》柏林直擊　陳果：我們不能選Boss 《紅VAN》為港人發聲寸爆政府" [Apple Live from Berlin, Fruit Chan: "We can't choose our boss", Movie speaks for Hong Kong people]. Apple Daily (in Chinese) (Hong Kong: Next Media). 9 Feb 2014. Retrieved 25 Feb 2014. 陳果執導、黃又南、文詠珊（JM）、任達華及林雪等主演的港產片《那夜凌晨，我坐上了旺角開往大埔的紅VAN》，改編自高登討論區上連載、由Mr. Pizza所著的同名小說
  6. ↑ Mr.Pizza (14 Feb 2012). "[新手] 那夜凌晨，我坐上了旺角開往大埔的紅van" [[Newbie] That night, I was lost on a Red Minibus to Taipo]. Hong Kong Golden Forum (web-novel) (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 Feb 2014.
  7. ↑ Press Office (17 January 2014). "Jan 17, 2014: Panorama 2014: Selection of Fictional Features for Main Programme and Panorama Special Now Complete". berlinale.de. Berlin International Film Festival. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  8. ↑ http://www.taipeitrends.com.tw/an-emotional-roller-coaster-the-midnight-after/ Taipei Trends

External links