Welcome to Horrorview.com!: Double Vision

Double Vision
(aka: Shuang Tong)
(Region 1 DVD)
(2002)
review by Don't Feed the Dead

Double Vision is Kuo-Fu Chen’s response to the American made Se7en. Shrouded in mystery, murders are occurring in Taiwan featuring some of the city’s highest profile personalities. However, police are unable to link the murders together, and furthermore finger a suspect because of the nature of the deaths. A high ranking businessman freezes to death in his office building on one of the hottest days of the year. A senator’s scandalous wife burns to death as she exits her bath drenched in water. Taiwanese police must call in a Federal profiler from the United States to gain any sort of insight on a spree that they feel is considered “serial murders”.

Chen paints a vivid picture filled with death and strange phenomenon, similar to that of Se7en, where the po-po is at a sever disadvantage because the killer(s) leave no trace of human tampering with the crime scene. However, dissimilar to Se7en, Double Vision concentrates more on the supernatural, rather than the fanaticism of one human being.

Detective Huang Ho-Tu (Leung Ka Fai) is a foreign affairs officer for the Taiwanese police department that has lost his faith in every sense of reality except for his job. Slumming in his office, Ho-Tu is dragged into the mysterious murder cases when he must play translator and host to Agent Kevin Richter, a profiler brought in from the US to assist in the case. Early in the movie we begin an ethical adventure that pits a man and his pride vs. his family structure. Ho-Tu is struggling to cope with an incident that occurred earlier where his cousin took his daughter hostage and Ho-Tu could not find the courage to pull the trigger and end the crisis. So Agent Richter takes it upon himself to attempt bringing the family back together and saving grace for Ho-Tu’s inability to face his past.

While all the family mending is happening, Ho-Tu begins to dig into a case that gets even weirder as the movie chugs along. Richter’s lack of Taiwanese etiquette begins to disrupt the police department and Ho-Tu must step in to keep his comrades from sabotaging the Agent’s advances in the case. After some digging around and speaking with the local Taoist professor, Ho-Tu learns that the murders have a distinct pattern that is linked to an ancient Taoist ceremony that grants immortality. One by one, Ho-Tu’s comrades fall victim to the cult running the ceremony until he is left alone to unearth the truth behind the case. In a final showdown (which actually has a great twist!) Ho-Tu must confront not only his adversary, but his own past cowardice.
Double Vision successfully adapts a similar plot utilized by Se7en, but puts an interesting Taoist twist to it. Although I am not a religious person, I found the insight to be rather interesting and appealing, a sticking point that most religious (mainly Christian) horror movies lack. The gore factor of the movie is incredible, with some shots showcasing some of the most violent outbursts I have ever scene in a crime/drama. There were a few spots of CGI that complemented the mystique of the film, but not so much that it depleted the movie’s credibility.

By way of extras on the disc, there are none. Disappointing, I know, but the fact that the film received an R1 release was astonishing in and of itself.

Although on the outside, Double Vision appears to be a poorly made Se7en rip-off, you’ll be quite surprised to find a very well made horror flick that seems to impress with every scene that the movie advances. Being unfamiliar with the Taoist religion, I often felt captivated by the movie’s ability to teach about the culture as well as convey a storyline that is both intelligent and exhilarating. Double Vision also drops the single most pertinent line that I have ever heard: “If you love, you will never die.” Ponder that one for tonight kiddies, and until the next gem is unearthed…….