A Tangled Web: Unraveling the Illusion of Truth
This suspenseful film masterfully crafts a narrative that initially leaves the viewer disoriented, struggling to grasp the central plot.
However, once the protagonist escapes and the intricate manipulation of time is revealed, the story transforms into a captivating puzzle. The screenplay bears a resemblance to the narrative structure of “Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney,” employing a compelling twenty-year time gap to enhance intrigue.
The Flaw in the Facade
From a logical standpoint, the elaborate construction of a fabricated family deception feels somewhat exaggerated. The introduction of fictional催眠 drugs to manipulate reality weakens the viewer’s suspension of disbelief. Despite the film’s commendable pacing, certain plot contrivances risk pushing it out of the suspense genre and into the realm of science fiction or even fantasy.
The restoration of the protagonist’s memories proves to be surprisingly impactful. A car accident claims the lives of his parents, leaving his brother critically injured and in need of expensive surgery. Desperate and unable to find employment, he becomes a killer. Initially hesitant, he accidentally kills the woman in the room when she awakens and screams, fearing discovery. Upon entering another room, he finds a young girl murdered and her mother screaming. He silences the mother in the same way.
Echoes of a Tragic Night
In this film, elements from the protagonist’s horrifying acts become keys to unlocking his repressed memories. For instance, the daughter, as she dies, crawls forward, leaving a bloody handprint on the piano. The mother, upon being attacked, stumbles into a radio, which starts playing an “elegant” song – a melody that, in the context of such tragedy, transforms into a haunting curse.
The revelation of the truth causes profound devastation among the so-called “relatives.” Even if the killer had intended to conceal his actions, the father’s role as the mastermind behind it all remains undeniable, plunging him into despair. The killer’s remorse is palpable, but the fact that he is the son of a sinner makes the truth unbearable for his relatives.
A Road to Nowhere ?
“Sir, that way is a dead end. You have to take this way to the elevator.” Perhaps, from that fateful night, their lives were set on a path of destruction, leading them ever closer to their end.
