Rigor Mortis marks the directing debut of Hong Kong actor, singer, record producer and fashion maven Juno Mak. Set in a gloomy apartment building where a washed-up actor has come to die but instead finds himself surrounded by sinister ghosts and one vampire in the making. The film is an attempt to revive the popular “hopping vampires” movies from the 1980s and early ’90s. If you are unfamiliar with that subgenre, Rigor Mortis will be a confusing but visually interesting ride.
The story (scripted by Mak, Philip Yung and Jill Leung) begins follows Chin (Chin Siu-ho, playing himself), a has-been movie star, checking into a vacant flat with every intention of hanging himself. His attempts are stopped when ghosts try to possess his body and a neighboring tenant saves his life. The man who saves his life, Yau (Antony “Friend” Chan), is a retired vampire hunter who now runs a food stall, cooking meals for the building’s various other residents who act as less a supporting cast and more for occasional distractions.
The film's visual style is familiar yet stylish. The ghost twins seem stolen from Ringu and other elements feel borrowed. Its a shame the film feels so stitched together from other films as the lead performances are convincing.
Rigor Mortis appears to have been conceived as something for Asian horror aficionados only rather than a straightforward scarefest, it’s neither a surprise nor a serious problem that none of it generates so much as a shiver. The CGI effects are tiresome for the most part but a few moments do generate excitement.
As the film grinds its way toward its zombie filled finale it becomes clear that the film lacks momentum and characters to care about. The film is designed for J-horror fans. It leaves the rest of us a bit stiff.
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