"The Devil Prince" - A film with depth but lacking innovation.

Adapted from Phan Cuong's "Strange Tales of the Ly Dynasty," the film "The Demon Prince" (currently showing in theaters) has a multi-layered script that delves into the world of humanity's battle against demons. However, the slow pace and simplistic plot, lacking breakthroughs and surprises, prevent the film from creating a strong appeal for audiences.

Lỗ Đạt (Lương Thế Thành) is the chief of Hủi Village, located deep in the jungle, isolated from the outside world . During a hunting trip, a member of the village's hunting party falls seriously ill. Thanks to the treatment of the traditional healer Thân Đức (Anh Tú Atus), he recovers from his critical condition. Lỗ Đạt decides to bring Thân Đức back to the village, hoping he can cure the villagers. However, many strange events occur, and Thân Đức takes control of the villagers with dark magic, as he is a prince with demonic blood, born from a royal tragedy. Thân Đức's mission is to restore the Xương Cuồng religion and summon the Xương Cuồng demon so he and his father can be reunited. The key to the success of the demon summoning ritual is Lỗ Đạt's daughter, who possesses extraordinary dream-related abilities. Lỗ Đạt tries everything to save his daughter and thwart Thân Đức's plot...

"The Demon Prince" is the third period horror film from the producing duo Hoang Quan and director Tran Huu Tan, following "Tet in Hell Village" and "The Soul Eater". Therefore, the film's setting, costumes, and props continue to be meticulously invested in and carefully crafted. The rituals and scare scenes, in addition to special effects, are also strongly supported by makeup, creating the necessary atmosphere for a horror film.

The film has a clear episodic structure, telling the story in a linear timeline, gradually leading viewers to uncover the secrets of the demon prince's identity and schemes. The script is relatively logical and deep, highlighting the intended message. The performances of Anh Tú Atus, Lương Thế Thành, and the supporting cast are all stable and well-rounded, helping the film maintain consistency in the characters' tragedies.

The film's drawbacks include a slow pace in the first half and a lack of surprises in the second. The villain is revealed too early, and the subsequent conflict between Lu Da and Shen De unfolds uneventfully, ending in a familiar pattern, lacking the explosive impact needed to leave a strong impression on the audience.

CAT DANG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/-hoang-tu-quy-phim-co-chieu-sau-nhung-thieu-dot-pha-a195341.html