Synopsis: An army recruit is found dead during a 24km road march. After the death of the recruit, strange things start to happen, haunting all the soldiers in the barracks.
My Quick Review: 23:59 is a mix between typical asian ghost stories (there are a lot of similarities with Dorm, especially in the first half hour) and exorcism movies.
The sets are great for the budget and the cinematography looks good enough for the movie to be enjoyed in a theater but unfortunately, poor acting all over the board (especially from the lieutenant) and lack of originality cripple the whole movie.
23:59 might be a good introduction to what National Service represents in a country such as Singapore, and all the folklore and superstition that flourish in those barracks, it is insufficient to keep us interested during the whole duration (albeit short) of the film.
Even fans of Asian Horror won’t be entirely satisfied by the ghosts/spirits on display with only a few jump scares and gore effect to keep them entertained.
My Rating: 4.5/10
Director: Gilbert Chan
Year: 2011
Origin: Singapore
Buy or Rent: Rent. But only if you want a change of scenery
Great review! I recently reviewed this film for my 31 Days of Halloween marathon and thought it was very good — I loved the “campfire ghost story” vibe it often creates. However, I agree, if you’re drained from Asian Horror films, it may be best to hold out and wait until you’re ready to visit the familiar territory.
Thanks for your comment Jonathan. By the way, kudos for your site as well, I like your review style, short and sweet!!