The Devil Prince movie: A harmonious blend of horror and folklore.

Adapted from the horror novel "Ly Trieu Di Truyen" by Phan Cuong (Phan Chi Hieu), director Tran Huu Tan and producer Hoang Quan decided to set "The Demon Prince" during the Le Trung Hung period, as this era is rich in historical materials on costumes, architecture, and beliefs that can be used as inspiration. The film revolves around Than Duc, a prince born through dark magic, who spends his entire life in the imperial palace. Upon escaping, Than Duc aspires to free the Demon of the Bone-Crazy from the Eye Barrier to restore the Bone-Crazy Sect. However, his plan can only be realized when he has both "ingredients" - the False Soul and the White Tiger's Yin energy. Disguised as a kind-hearted physician wanting to heal the sick, Than Duc travels to the Leper Village and encounters the powerful village chief, Lo Dat. From here, various conspiracies and plans unfold with many mysterious events. "The Demon Prince" possesses a complex story and a logical plot. However, the film's initial pace is quite slow, meaning the later climax doesn't really explode or have a memorable twist.

The biggest strength of "The Demon Prince" lies in the meticulous work of the production team, from the setting and visuals to the exploration of religious and folklore elements within a story steeped in horror and mystery. For example, the costumes included 500 newly made traditional outfits, the makeup was incredibly realistic down to the smallest detail, and the leper village setting was completely recreated in the pristine forest of Da Lat. The wooden houses with thatched roofs, poultry sheds, herb beds, hunting tools… and every prop were carefully researched. In particular, to create the eerie atmosphere of the village, the team took advantage of Da Lat's foggy weather during the rainy season in June. From wide shots of expansive landscapes to close-ups, everything was carefully crafted to convey a mysterious and chilling atmosphere.

In terms of acting, there's a good balance between the familiar and new faces. Than Duc is the most challenging role of Anh Tu Atus's career. He relatively completely portrays the contrast between the gentle personality of a traditional healer and the bloodthirsty prince. Returning to cinema after 13 years, Luong The Thanh also convincingly portrays the upright village chief of Lo Dat. Even more impressive are the roles of the shaman played by young actress Hoang Linh Chi and the wandering storyteller Phan Cuong played by Thanh Truc – although this role also sparked some controversy due to the use of modern language in a historical setting. It's quite regrettable that the role of concubine Tue Lieu, who performs the dark magic ritual to give birth to Than Duc (played by artist Binh Tinh), couldn't break free from her familiar Cai Luong (traditional Vietnamese opera) acting style. "The Devil Prince" premieres on December 5th and is rated T18 (for audiences 18 years and older only).

HAI DUY

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/phim-hoang-tu-quy-hai-hoa-kinh-di-va-van-hoa-dan-gian-post827307.html