This is a bit of an old fashioned horror movie with a innovative touch. Something that plays as a dramatic movie first and then slowly becomes something else. Like "Rosemary" or "Exorcist" but without the high profile clout of those directors. This is around 1.5hr of an exploration of tragedy and grief through characters struggling to cope.

To say much of this film is to ruin it, so lashing praise onto certain aspects of it is the best one can do. Not to say this is a film with a big twist, it isn't. David Chiang is fantastic as is no surprise at this point in his career. All the performances carry their own for all the actors. The cinematography, rhythms and pacing, sense of place and space, and sound design are all superb and work in conjunction to create atmosphere and dread -- like a pit in your stomach that continues to grow and grow throughout.

It turns into a genuine nightmare that absolutely worked for me. See it blind, see it as a movie first and foremost (not as a horror show with jump scares), but just see it.

The story is well paced after it's first 10-15 minute of slow burn, suffering from some disturbing incidents of varying quality, packing nice as well as mental scary moments . There are some really creepy scenes with soul reaching chills, ghastly surprises and outstanding the pleasantly visual look too. Beautiful Art Direction, especially the details on Chinese wedding scene which was just stunning.

There's a demon likes to get inside your mind, if he enters he can be a bit unkind, takes you down a winding path, a quite determined sociopath, doesn't care what trauma that he leaves behind. It's the kind of shade that's often passed along, the recipient may feel they don't belong, an imposter in their world, wearing a mask fully unfurled, all life's treasures we take for granted, simply gone.

Some stellar performances in a film that will get you thinking about the effects life's challenges present and how you deal with them, albeit through the eyes of those possessed by demonic urges they can't control.

In this age of horror being very much reliant on the gimmicks and unique right hooks to the audience to get them into the seats, it's not entirely common that one sees a good old fashioned spook-house horror film.

No gimmicks. No twists. Just a film that does its absolute best to get your skin crawling, nerves tightened, and heart pounding.

'It Remains', as you may imagine, is one of those films.

'It Remains' is about as simple as a horror movie nowadays can come; terrible circumstances befall a seemingly ordinary friend group, these weird circumstances lead to discoveries of something terrible in each of the characters, and soon enough things come apart rather quickly.

What this film excels at is all in the technical. The performances are all beyond convincing and do the job selling the understated terror this film has to offer. Specifically, David Chiang, Tommy Chu delivers in a manner that had even my skin crawling.

What is also noticeable when it comes to this film's strengths is the excellent cinematography, this film accomplishes a more suitable sense of suspense and nerve-wracking tension through it. Whether in-motion or standing completely still, the camera makes itself apparent in this film and works beyond effectively.

The only thing of it is, this film is not for you if you prefer a straightforward and conventional horror film. The first act is very much a slow burn, while the rest of the film builds its horror and tension in ways that I do not believe a general audience would appreciate quite as much. It's not abstract, but considering it lacks the conventions of jumpscares and instead relies on atmosphere, mood, and its performances to scare...that perhaps explains a bit why the film is striking the general audience as so polarizing.

But, if you can appreciate a slow, creepy, atmospheric film that aims directly to make your skin crawl and make you shuffle in your seat, I think you'll truly enjoy the ride this film takes you on.

Unconventional, scary as hell, but perhaps not perfect in what it aspires to do, 'It Remains' is still a scary time for all the right reasons! Bravo to this new director coming out from Hong Kong!