Mrs. Tanh and Thao and her husband in the film.
The film is set in 2010 in a rural area of the Southwestern Mekong Delta. Thao (Tin Nguyen) and Phu (Avin Lu) are expecting their first child when, tragically, Phu's mother dies from a serious illness. After the funeral, the couple falls into debt, and their health deteriorates as the pregnancy is at risk of failure. Thao and Phu follow the advice of a shaman named Tanh (Le Khanh) to summon the spirit of the deceased mother to their home to protect the unborn child. Initially, things seem to go well as Phu's health stabilizes and he earns money to pay off his debts. However, strange occurrences begin, even leading to murder. Thao is terrified and wants to stop, but it's too late…
The concept of "house spirits" is a folk spiritual belief, and the film clearly explains this notion. Thao and her husband were wrong from the start when they invited house spirits to worship, driven by greed and a desire for both good and bad fortune. Their initial intention was simply to protect the unborn child, but they later aspired to become wealthy through gambling, leading to negative consequences. Further mistakes are gradually revealed in the latter half of the film, along with unexpected twists, making the story increasingly dramatic and captivating. The horror elements in the film are a combination of jump scares, the characters' psychological trauma, and the oppressive, gloomy fate of the couple. The makeup and special effects are well-done and appropriate to the context.
The film's pace is slow but not drawn out, vividly portraying the desperate situation of the young couple, forcing them to choose to believe in spirituality in the hope of escaping adversity, gradually straying from their original purpose. The cause of the mother's death, as well as the true motive of the shaman who instigated Thao to worship the house spirit, are revealed, resolving the entire story. Viewers feel both sympathy and blame for Thao and her husband, and sadness for the three mothers in the film. Thao, her mother-in-law, and Mrs. Tanh each have their own justifications for their actions or resentments. They love their children and grandchildren, but their wrong choices lead to consequences. The film offers a warning: "House spirits" are not just spirits in the house, but also spirits within each person's heart. Don't let inner demons overwhelm reason, and don't let your fate depend on the protection of things beyond your control.
Besides the plot, the performances of the three main actors are a strong point of the film. Tin Nguyen had previously gained attention for her supporting roles in several films, but "Ma Xó" is her first leading role, and she delivered a solid performance as the psychologically complex character Thao. Anvin Lu made a surprising transformation, shedding his "romantic" image from previous films ("Em và Trịnh," "Ngày xưa có một chuyện tình") to play a construction worker's husband with a gaunt appearance and grumpy personality. Le Khanh, meanwhile, shone in her role as a shaman who appeared kind but was full of ulterior motives.
The film has a happy ending, but it's also full of regret for those who made mistakes. In particular, the final song is very impressive.
CAT DANG
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/loi-canh-tinh-tu-ma-xo--a206848.html
