I've always had kind of a love hate relationship with Chinese historical BLs. Some are genuinely excellent, but then there are others that cram in so much plot that keeping track of all the layers of betrayal and scheming gets exhausting, and I end up checking out mentally. Part of the issue is also just how much content is out there in this space, so something really has to stand out to keep me hooked. In this case, the production value is genuinely impressive, top tier stuff, but story wise, I just couldn't bring myself to actually care about these characters. There's a ton of political scheming and backstage manipulation running throughout. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, a hostage ends up falling for his own Prince Charming. The show runs eight episodes, each around 50 to 60 minutes long. After spending three years guarding the border, Fifth Prince Yin Qi gets called back to the capital because of a secret letter, only to end up walking straight into a deadly...
Its halloween and Henry has invited a few friends over including his best friend for 12 years Malcolm. Henry has feelings for him (and so does him) but neither is ready to open up fearing they will lose the friend. The friends are playing on an Ouija board with an orb. Before the night ends, Henry and Malcolm end up kissing and Malcolm sleeps. Th next day Henry finds Malcolm gone, but in reality Malcolm's spirit is still there is the room. Neither understands what's going on. Slowly using internet and spiritual healer they are make a connection that Malcolm's spirit is in that house but they don't know what the purpose it. Using the e-book written by the guide about spirits, they finally figure out that on halloween night somehow the demon spirit which was captured in the orb, escaped and took over Malcolm's body. Henry along with Malcolm's spirit device a plan to reclaim Mal's body. While all this is gnomon, of course there are a LOT of scenes where finally they both admit their love for each other.
As I mentioned, this film was stretched beyond it needed tone. The whole 'hot neighbor' story point could have been completely eliminated. That was not the only way to make them realize they love each other. I mean, they knew they did. This could have easily made the film crispier. Also some of the scenes just go on forever. I mean, once Henry realizes that indeed thesis Malcolm's spirit then the film should have been very sharply focused on one aspect. Instead it keeps moving from supernatural, to romance, to wannabe comedy to I don't know what. For movies with only 2-3 actors, the leads have to be interesting to capture your attention. But the actors here were strictly ok. Nothing memorable about their acting or the direction itself. The final confrontation scene, which is normally something to look out fo run such scenarios, was also such a dumb squib. It was the easiest resolution I have seen in movies like this, it was joke. This film is much less positives and a lot of improvements that could have been done on the editing table. Maybe then it could have been a bit bearable. (4/10)
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