Program Note
Set in a decaying shopping mall in Hong Kong, this zombie apocalypse horror film depicts the struggles of humans and zombies in a limited space that seems to have stopped time in the 80s. One day, a sealed black magic entity is unleashed in the mall's basement, spreading an orange powder that turns those who inhale it into zombies who attack humans. While following the classic framework of a zombie film, it incorporates Taoist mythology and spiritual elements like the 'Seven Po', reflecting Hong Kong's unique cultural and historical backdrop. In particular, it metaphorically portray historical events and creates rich subtexts and cinematic metaphors through various characters, indirectly capturing the trauma and series of changes in Hong Kong society. Combining the traditional Taoist concept with the modern horror genre, it is a unique work that reflects Hong Kong characteristics well, and it is an impressive debut by director Jack Lai, who previously gained attention as an assistant director in Chinese commercial cinema. (KIM Youngwoo)