Review for Dream Home

Dream Home
2010; Dir: Pang Ho-Cheung

Film
One can always trust Hong Kong to muster up the most outlandish of horror premises, and make them a truly terrifying concept. That's not to say everything that is produced on those shores is worthwhile however, far from it. For every benchmark, there is an unfortunate low-point. Dream Home is a film that looked likely to run the risk of falling into the latter category.
Domestically, Dream Home was lumbered with a Category III rating, the equivalent of an American NC-17 or an X. However, in it's homeland, the controversy has only served to enhance it's status and notoriety, perhaps increasing it's commercial viability. The movie became not just a hit at Film Festivals, but also an award-winning piece, praised for it's bravado, and unflinching commitment to spectacle.
Recent Japanese export, Gurotesuku was typical of the sort of hyper-violent spectacle that UK sensors frown upon, and was promptly rejected by the British Board of Film Classification. Devoid of any particular narrative, this exploitative gore-fest was an easy target for the squeamish censor. Here, it's a small miracle that Dream Home is issued intact for it's UK release. Perhaps the reasoning, is that the film contains not just a plot, but elements such as motivation, and a social subtext.

Pop-star, Josie Ho plays Cheng, an attractive, hard-working young woman whose father is dying. She's been on a quest to find an appropriate home for her and her father in the Victoria Harbour section of Hong Kong. Unfortunately, her plans do not come to fruition as she expected, and she sets out on rampage, determined to acquire the property.

The narrative in Dream House is not as simplistic as the plot would suggest however. Plunging right into a world of decadent violence, Cheng's assaults unfold, whilst the story of her father, her home-hunting, and most importantly, the child-hood incidents that have shaped her psychosis, are merged along the way in flashback form. It's an effective means of delivering what could have otherwise been a routine plot. Dream Home is also distinguished by its rather blunt, at times bizarre satire of the property market.



There are problems of course. Scenes involving some a couple of young fellows, and a foursome they've attempted to invoke with two girls they picked up, are overly protracted and a tad gratuitous. There's simply no need for so much nudity here, and overlong set-up for a bunch who exist purely to provide more meat for the slaughter. Additionally, the scene also gives the young men some character and in making them more human, serves to further alienate us from the lead character. Her mission requires a degree of empathy, and this is just one of several examples of it being impossible to think of her as anything other than a remorseless psycho. An earlier butchering of a pregnant woman is a horrific, disturbing piece of cinema that underlines this issue early on, although to an extent that seems detached from the remainder of the picture. Aside from that bleak moment, the death scenes are ludicrously over the top, and entertaining, with a comical finger's landing on a record deck particularly impressing. Also successful, is the terrific lead performance by Josie Ho, who is absolutely compelling in every scene, carrying the film throughout its entire duration.

Thus, Dream Home is an uneven, at times confused piece… but one that is never becomes dull and benefits enormously from some smooth cinematography.

Image and Sound
The image is adequate, but far from great, with some annoying ghosting appearing in the English subtitles. Sound-wise, the Cantonese stereo track on the film is fine. There's nothing out of the ordinary or remarkable about the mix however.



Extras
The usual stuff, in the form of an image gallery, and theatrical trailer is what you would expect. But there's also an interview (in English), with star Josie Ho, filmed in London. She makes for an articulate, absorbing subject. On set, the film was apparently dogged by rumours of unrest between Ho and director Pang Ho-Cheung, with both jostling for creative control. The actress' influence is obvious, and it make for her having a much greater understanding of the film and the motivations behind it, which certainly adds to this being a worthwhile interview.

Not included on the review disc, the final released version also promises a 2,000 word booklet by Billy Chainsaw on the film's place in Slasher history.



Conclusion
Dream Home cannot be faulted for its ambition in terms of the concept. Unfortunately, the satire does not entirely hit the mark, and on occasion, the plot treads too closely to standard slasher fare. The truly great entries into this sub-genre, include works such as Ms. 45 (1981, Abel Ferrara), a film that cleverly interwove satire and a twist on convention, into a standard vigilante plot. In the seminal Ferrara film, a multiple rape victim (a mute I might add) decided she had enough, and embarked on a ruthless vigilante mission, murdering predatory males. However as the film progressed, she increasingly used herself to lure her victims into situations, and eventually became unable to decipher between the guilty and innocent. But the glue holding it together was the initial justification for the crime spree, regardless of how off-the-rails it would eventually go. At no point is Dream Home ever on the rails! Cheng's misfortune throughout her upbringing is no excuse whatsoever for her despicable actions, and her mission is both selfish and depraved.

There is still much to appreciate here though, for those who can see past the gore. Those who admired recent hit, Meat Grinder will find that Dream Home dabbles in similar territory though for my money… much more successfully. While there's certainly an element of cliché, and "stretching" involved here, there is more importantly, much gusto and panache, all held together by a cracking turn from Josie Ho. Recommended , for those with the stomach to cope.