In the realm of horror movies, ghost-based stories in Hong Kong cinema are somewhat similar to their slasher film counterparts in the west. Often made using next to no budget with the intent of a quick cash-in at the box office, most of the releases in the genre are as generic and forgettable as whatever CW network teen soap star is appearing in them. However, once in a while, a movie comes around that transcends the genre and appeals to more than a handful of people looking for a cheap scare. One of these sorts of movies would be Ann Hui's 2001 picture Visible Secret.

An anomaly herself, in that she is one of a very small handful of female directors that have attained a measure of success in Hong Kong cinema, Ann Hui has become known for eschewing many of the tropes of her fellow directors -- namely, over-the-top sex and violence combined with rapid genre changes -- for the sake of creating more realistic portrayals of life in modern Hong Kong. While Visible Secret can't be considered a realistic movie -- this is a ghost picture, after all -- Hui obviously displayed more artistic craftsmanship here than many of her contemporaries that have worked in the genre, which is a boon to the production as a whole.

Compared to your usual ghost picture, such as the Troublesome Night juggernaut of a series, which was on its' twelfth installment at this point in time, the viewer will actually develop a relationship with the characters featured here, instead of simply waiting around to see how the next dumb schmuck gets offed. Visible Secret ultimately tells a simple story: Eason Chan and Hsu Chi fall in love and have to deal with Hsu's ability (or curse, depending on how you look at it) to see ghosts. But Hui takes the time to create and coax three-dimensional (not in the literal sense, mind you) performances from her actors, which is so extremely refreshing when compared to the bulk of the genre, where often the actors come off like they're woodenly reading their lines off of a cue card.

As not to disappoint long-time readers of this site, I will put forth a few negative points. Or, rather, one in particular. This movie isn't scary in the least. Sure, it's moody and a little bit creepy, but, unless you're a total scaredy-cat, Visible Secret isn't the sort of film that's going to have you sleeping with the lights on. Granted, your friendly neighborhood reviewer is the sort of chap that will nosh on a large greasy pizza while watching disgusting filth (and I say that with much reverence and respect to the film-makers) such as Red to Kill and The Untold Story. At any rate, even if you're not usually a fan of Hong Kong ghost stories, do yourself a favor and check Visible Secret out. It's done well enough that it's still a fine cinematic experience even if you're not exactly going to be spooked out.

RATING: 7