If you are looking for a straight answer about whether you should spend your money on Scare Out Movie Review searches lead you here, let me cut through the noise: Scare Out is a massive disappointment. I walked into the theater expecting the genius behind Hero and Shadow to deliver a sleek, modern spy thriller. Instead, I got a headache. This new film from acclaimed director Zhang Yimou is his first attempt at a contemporary national-security story, and frankly, it feels like he was handcuffed by the editing room .
I want to share my experience watching this film because the hype surrounding it is massive—the trailer was viewed 5.4 billion times, which is insane . But does the buzz match the movie? In my expert opinion, absolutely not. Let’s break down why this espionage thriller left me feeling bored and confused.
My First Impressions: High Hopes Dashed
I can say I am a massive Asian cinema consumer. As I listened to the news that Zhang Yimou was making a film that the ministry of state security sponsored, I got curious. The actors are also of a high-quality as they include the pop sensation, Jackson Yee and Zhu Yilong. The setting (mole hunt in one of the national security teams) appeared as the recipe to a strict cat-and-mouse suspense.
I had a feeling that something was amiss, though, I was able to know this at the very first scene. It is not merely fast editing, but is hyperactive and convulsive. After watching the film, I told my friend that it is cut just right after the end of almost every sentence. I believed I was dramatizing, but later as the movie progressed, I knew I was not exaggerating at all. It was not more of a movie but rather a two-hour long documentary in the form of a music video.
You may also read :- Unveiling A House of Dynamite: A Powerful Narrative
The Plot: A Maze with No Cheese
And what is Scare Out all about? Frankly speaking, I am still trying to put it together. The simplest of the plot is based on Huang Kai (Zhu Yilong) and Yan Di (Jackson Yee) who are the representatives of national security team. They are mandated to go after spies who are spilling confidential information on the new fighter jet technology.
As the plot develops, the top management thinks that it has a mole within itself. Newly, the suspects are suddenly Huang Kai and Yan Di. This arrangement must generate that traditional Infernal Affairs paranoia when you do not know who you can rely on. But the film describes and tells everything very fast and cuts off very fast that you do not feel the suspense.
The most important Plot Points that I was able to understand include:
- The leak of stealth-material technology of next generation fighter jet.
- The investigation within is under the leadership of a senior officer called Zhao Hong (Song Jia).
- Tons of screaming in office-like rooms.
- A disorienting third act with twists which were unearned.
- When the credits rolled, I had no feelings. There was neither tension, nor drama, nor anything I felt inclined to care who the spy was.
Why the Editing Ruined the Experience
The editing is the elephant in the room, which needs to be discussed. I have watched movies with a high pace. I have witnessed Michael Bay destroying stuff and Tony Scott whirling cameras. But this? This was like a person allowing a DJ to edit a film. The whole cutting was so continuous that the actors had no time to breathe and the audience took long time to process the information.
As a non-Mandarin speaker, it was a nightmare to read the subtitles. The shot would change just as I would be reading a line. The next line of dialogue was presented before I could focus my eyes on the new angle. It was visually exhausting.
The Performances: Good Actors, Bad Direction
This is the most tragic section of my Scare out Movie Review. The actors are trying their best yet they are disappointed by the disorganized direction.
Jackson Yee: Too Quiet?
Jackson Yee has performed the performance of his life in Resurrection last year. In this case, his character Yan Di is expected to be a complicated personality of a man who is standing in the border between trust and suspicion. Nevertheless, he is so quiet and subtle with his performance that he loses in the noise.
One of the most known interrogation scenes is intended to be a master-class of restraint. Yee employs subtle expressions in his eyes and narrowing his jaw in order to reveal an expression of emotion. That would be a strong point in a normal movie. In Scare Out the camera cuts out before you can even see it. His talent is wasted here.
Zhu Yilong: Too Loud
Zhu Yilong is over to melodrama on the other side. He is dramatic, emotional and physical. The contrast of stillness of Yee, and the energy of Yilong creates some tonal anomaly that the movie never corrects. Is it some silent play of inner agony, or noisy action film? The movie can’t decide.
The Bright Spots
Song Jia is the one to watch in case there is a reason. She portrays Zhao Hong dominantly. Whenever she appeared on screen the film seemed to have a heartbeat albeit briefly. Regrettably, she is not in it to the extent that she can save the day.
Visuals and Sound: Flat and Repetitive
Zhang Yimou is well known by his images. Consider the daggers floating in Hero or the ink aesthetics of Shadow. Thus, I was surprised to see how flat Scare Out is.
The film making is totally uninspired. It seems that they put three cameras into a room and recorded and hoped that everything would turn out alright. The city areas appear to be chilly and remote, which I understand was the goal, though with no artistic touch. Camera work is never in a hurry except in the case of the action scenes, where even the fight choreography is clumsy and difficult to follow.
The Music
This is an odd peculiarity of this movie: the music is the best part of it. In particular, there are three songs, which are blaring at allegedly crucial moments. They are catchy yet they seem so out of place. It is as though you were watching a serious spy drama turn into a pop concert. When soundtrack is the best attribute of your movie, you are in trouble.
The "Authenticity" Factor
However, this film is fascinating as it was guided by the ministry of state security in china. This gives the processes and technology authenticity. I liked the appearance of the surveillance technician and the control rooms too. It felt modern and realistic.
Authenticity, however, does not mean entertainment. Admittedly, the devices are physically believable but the individuals holding them are uninteresting. The movie is an attempt to bring out these invisible guardians who guard the nation. It is a good message, particularly on the Chinese New Year. However, the film pays so much attention to the technology and the twists of the storyline that it does not bother about making us empathize.
What the Critics Are Saying
I was not the only person to walk out of the theater with a scratch on my head. Following is a brief summary of the reviews:
- The People Movies rated it 1 star, labeling it a real disappointment of seismic scale and said that the horrid editing of the same renders an impossibility to view subtitles.
- The editing compared by Casey Movie Mania unfavorably with Michael Bay and Olivier Megaton, noting that the climactic chase provided them with a splitting headache .
- LA Post had a different interpretation commending the film as having a restrained, cool visual tone and to Jackson Yee a performance of quiet power. Apparently, the editing may be overcome, but there may be a good film beneath it. However, to me, that was not possible.
Box Office vs. Reality
Although my Scare Out Movie Review was negative, I must finally bring up the elephant in the room, which is money. On the first day of its release in the mainland, the film earned 276 million yuan . It was also released in almost 200 US and Canada theaters.
Why is it making money? Star power. Zhu Yilong and Jackson Yee are highly popular. Chinese New Year holiday is one of the most appropriate times when families visit the movies. The fact that a film earns money, however, does not imply that it is good. I witnessed it occur a hundred times. The first weekend will see fans turn up but the long term run will be killed by word of mouth.
Comparison to Other Spy Films
You are not in a mood to see a good spy thriller; then do not watch Scare Out. This film is in a dire need to be similar to Infernal Affairs or the recent The Shadow’s Edge. However, those films know their timing. Even they understand that sometimes nothing is more than something.
Infernal Affairs is a quality film because it makes us wish to be in the lives of these characters as they live their lies. The tension in Scare Out is expected to be generated through the fast-paced plot twists. However, since we are not aware of the characters, the twists do not count.
Who Is This Movie For?
Following a couple of days of contemplation on the same, I have attempted to trace the target audience.
- Crazed Jackson Yee Fans: In case you are fond of the actor, you may appreciate his face on the screen spending 104 minutes. Simply help your expectations towards his performance.
- Tech Geeks: The technologies in this film are interesting in case you are captivated by the world of drones and the use of surveillance AI.
- Completionists: In case you have already watched all of the Zhang Yimou movies and have to cross this one off the list, by all means.
Unless you belong to some other group, casual moviegoer, action fan, or drama lover, then forget it. Wait until it comes out streaming and skip through the dull parts.
Final Thought
Scare Out is an opportunity lost. It possessed the director, the cast, the budget and the government support. It ought to have been a historic movie to the Chinese modern espionage. Rather, it is an incoherent, edited into nothingness and is more style than substance.
Zhang Yimou is generally aware of how to strike a balance between visuals and story. This is where he is out of his element. Such hyperactive editing kills any opportunity that the actors had to shine. I had no more strength to take notice of the last twist of the plot.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Scare Out: is it worth seeing in theaters?
I would say no, in my sincere opinion, unless you are a massive fan of the cast, it should wait until it is on streaming platforms. It is so cut that it can get overwhelming to watch it on a large screen and would strain the eyes.
2. Who is in the cast of Scare Out?
The movie features Jackson Yee (Better Days), Zhu Yilong (Love Never Ends) and Song Jia (The Taking of Tiger Mountain). It has also Lei Jiayin and Yang Mi in supporting roles.
3. Does Scare Out have a true story?
No, the mentioned characters are fictional. The film was however produced under the supervision of the Ministry of State Security in China hence the intelligence processes and technologies seen in the film are regarded to be genuine.
4. What is the duration of the Scare Out movie?
It has a lean runtime of 104 minutes. Although the length is very short, it is paced in a very wiggly way thanks to the rather rapid edits and thus seems to be significantly longer.
5. What is so fast about the editing in Scare Out?
The question is, what is the million dollar question. Critics guess that director Zhang Yimou was attempting to reflect tech paranoia apprehension and the speed of the new surveillance. Most critics, including me, however, believe that the ADHD-type editing was a mistake that kills the tension.
