Review of House of the Invisibles (2007) by Brian S — 13 Aug 2010

The synopsis of the film given both here and on Netflix is incorrect. The story is set in Taiwan, not Malaysia, and there are numerous ghosts, not just one. "House of the Invisibles" refers to an apartment building which is to be torn down. The last few tenants lead dead-end lives and have nowhere to go. A creepy old concierge, no longer being paid for his services, keeps watch at the front door. An even creepier homeless woman with prophetic powers pushes her shopping cart through the halls. Also resident here are a number of ghosts -- a couple who committed suicide, a mysterious little girl and her mother, a pair of gamblers, a prostitute, and a few that are better not given away. Like the humans tenants, the ghosts can't leave until they fulfill various requirements. Some are malicious, seeking to possess a living body in order to leave the building. Others have less malicious intent; they need an apology, or even just a name.

The story is actually very interesting and intelligent, exploring themes of devotion, forgiveness and restitution. There are some touching moments at the end of the film as the identities and motives of ghosts are revealed. There's some interesting camera work here and there, too, that engenders a few creepy moments. On the other hand, some of the acting is pretty bad. There are lots of goofy comical moment that might play well in China, but to an American eye look rather dumb and tend to take away from the story at inopportune moments.

That's too bad, because at its core, "House of the Invisibles" is a good story that's hamstrung by a low budget and incompetent direction. I'd like to see a remake with these obstacles removed.