Yet another film to have an attention grabbing premise and cover, which did look genuinely creepy. Both play major factors in me seeing any film and it is hard not to expect at least a little when they are promising. Will say right now though that when in that situation the actual execution when seeing the film in question varies wildly, some are good and more and others are disappointing and even as far as pretty terrible.
'Singular Cay', for reasons that have been said already very well, unfortunately falls under the pretty terrible, make that very terrible actually, category, and yet another film to be a complete waste of potential. One of the worst potential wastes seen in a while actually, have seen far less of those recently so this is saying a lot. It is nowhere near as creepy as the cover looks, and it manages to make a premise that should, from reading the summary, have at least intrigued in some shape or form dull and confusing. Really can't help feeling mad.
Here in 'Singular Cay' there is a strange mix of not putting in much effort and trying too hard, with the latter it is what sums up the component that near-single handedly sinks the film. There are a lot of other things wrong, but a major and important component is bungled beyond redemption.
Will start with where 'Singular Cay' doesn't really try. It has a pretty amateurish look and it was clearly made in a rush on minimal budget, some of the editing especially can be very shoddy. The direction has very little enthusiasm. The script is turgid and constantly sounds awkward. The ending doesn't try to make sense and is convoluted to a quite intelligence insulting degree.
Nor does 'Singular Cay' try to make the characters likeable or interesting, there's nothing to them and was annoyed by them. Especially the detective, the ineptitude becoming so overdone it became irritating, one cannot believe how anybody could be so stupid. Apart from one, the acting shows no personality or commitment.
It's the story though where 'Singular Cay' tries too hard and clearly didn't know what to be or what to do with itself. It is a real mishmash tonally with frequent and very violently jumpy shifts and direction changes, this made the film bloated and muddled and sense completely went out the window. So did any suspense, of which there was none due to the erratic pace and nothing being surprising, or thrills.
Only one aspect escapes the not trying and trying too hard traps and is the one thing that stops 'Singular Cay' from being beyond redemption. That's Cheng Pei-Pei, who doesn't fare too badly.
Unlike everything else, all making up a mess of a film. 2/10
