Tape film review

Directed by: Bizhan Tong

Written by: Stephen Belber, Bizhan Tong, Selena Lee, Bonnie Lo

Starring: Kenny Kwan, Selena Lee, Adam Pak

Film review by: Jason Knight

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A feature drama directed by Bizhan Tong, written by Tong, Stephen Belber, Selena Lee and Bonnie Lo and starring Kenny Kwan, Selena Lee and Adam Pak.

Drug dealer and lifeguard, Wing (Pak), is renting an Airbnb in Hong Kong, where he intends to reunite with Jon (Kwan), a friend from school whom he has not seen in years and who is now an accomplished filmmaker. There is far more to that, though, as Wing has set up hidden cameras throughout the apartment. Why? Because he believes that during their graduation fifteen years before, Jon committed a heinous act and Wing plans to get his confession on tape without him knowing. Following innocent exchanges, Wing sets his plan in motion, leading to a great deal of drama and the arrival of Amy (Lee), a former classmate, leads to further complications.

This film begins more or less lightheartedly, with two men meeting again after a lengthy separation and catching up with everything, having a laugh, minor arguments and doing some drugs. It is after Wing mentions Amy that the atmosphere becomes serious (rather serious) and tension and suspense fill the air. Amy herself makes her appearance approximately halfway through, leading to the part where Jon is forced to face his past actions. Confrontations, revelations and accusations dominate this story that as both a drama as well as a thriller.

Since it is based on a play, it is probably unsurprising that almost the entirety of the narrative takes place in real time and that it takes place almost completely in the apartment. The screenplay is more focused on exploring the characters than it is on moving the story forward, and it does so very effectively.

Jon, Amy and Wing are the only characters on-screen (with the exception of several flashbacks) and they each have their own perspective regarding the fateful incident that drives the story. Wing is the most cheerful one, a carefree guy who sells and uses illegal drugs and who seems to want to see justice being served for Jon's wrongdoing. Jon appears to be a coward when it comes to admitting his mistake and facing the consequences and being forced to admit what he did clearly has a massive impact on him. Amy is a public prosecutor and her presence pretty much dominates the second half, with her confronting the person who caused her anguish. She is an intelligent and calm individual and Lee's performance perfectly reveals the torment she is going through.

The whole plot revolves around a past incident, and the feature concentrates heavily on the concept of facing the consequences of one's actions, that the past catches up. Accompanied by this are feelings of self-reflection and regret.

This is a remake that brings the story from the United States to Hong Kong, and the result is a dramatic and thought-provoking viewing with strong acting and an intriguing plot.

Tape will be in UK Cinemas from the 19^th of September.