![](https://www.grimoireofhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TheHeirloomTartanExtremeFilmReviewBanner.jpg)
With the Japanese and Korean booms in horror overshadowing other nations regionally, we don’t tend to see as many other Asian cultures represented often. The Heirloom is a Taiwanese flick from 2005 that will help flesh out any aficionado’s repertoire.
In the Yang household, there is a sole survivor from the mass murder two decades prior. When he returns from England to inherit the family mansion with his fiancée in tow, a curse seems to plague him, lurking to claim its last victim.
Not to tread slowly, The Heirloom starts us off with a brutal introduction about a folk practice where dead fetuses are worshipped in urns and fed with the blood of their master. In exchange for being fed and protected, the “child ghost” will bring their master power or fortune. What could go wrong with such a morbid ritual?
Dance, rose petals, hanging scenes that are mostly represented by feet, and other surreal images are spread throughout the film, lending an artistic flair that I appreciated. Not quite as gorgeous as things like A Tale of Two Sisters or Lady Vengeance, it still brought extra substance and drove the emphasis on its themes home.
The acting is predominantly terse, fitting the characters and their relationship. Neither seems to really want to be in his unfamiliar, overly large home and away from their lives. Their attachments are struggling, as are their bonds with each other. The atmosphere enhances the situation perfectly, ala The Turn of the Screw. As the number of incidents increases, the couple realizes that there is more to their new home than they realized.
The “rules” of the house presented are unique and fun, and the plot working in little fake-outs throughout that captivated my interest. The camera work also precipitated this vision, deploying close-ups providing both trickery and interesting angles.
Woefully, the pacing is rather slow, relying less on jump scares and more on drama and visuals – a film style demanding a certain patience with value of the aesthetic. The Heirloom is better for fans who have experienced Asian cinema extensively, rather than a newbie used to fast Hollywood beats with more momentum. Although not amongst my top films, I was excited to rewatch it years later for this review – it does have some appeal at the very least.
As a positive, the wardrobe department receives my praise. Scenes tend to be separated in period by color, and the flashbacks have lush jewel tones that really pop. The present scenes are stoic and washed out, with a very limited color palette of grey, blue, black, and other neutrals. It makes the present all the more grim when contrasted with scenes from the past, vibrant and alive, evocative of memories seared into time.
An open mind with The Heirloom is a worthy investment. The climax reveals much about the Yang family, and what happened with the child ghost, and none of the twists feel forced. We also witness the two lead actors expressing intense emotion that the rest of the film didn’t permit- a freedom for the actors to display their talent with intensity. Consider it another horror fan’s lesson learned: Don’t play with dead things.
More Film Reviews
One of the biggest highlights of the Japan Film Fest Hamburg rests within the diverse selection of short films. For the audience, this means getting the chance to see original… Mercenaries for hire, James and Marshall are tasked with rescuing a scientist from an underground bunker in order to obtain the research she holds. However, the complex is crawling with… To say that director Zack Snyder has had one hell of a year would be an incredible understatement, and I mean that in the best way possible. Anyone unfamiliar with… New Orleans, with its rich history and lots of tourist-friendly attractions, is a perfect setting for a horror movie – especially if it has anything to do with voodoo –… Censor is an innovative psychological horror based in the UK in the 80s, with a story that both discusses and becomes the worst of video nasties – a melding of… Indonesian horror has been receiving some attention in recent years, mostly thanks to some pretty good entries from the country. So it is not surprising that the said country’s highest-grossing…Japan Film Fest Hamburg JFFH 2021 – Short Films Spotlight
Death Valley (2021) Film Review – Action Packed Horror
Army of the Dead (2021) Film Review – Undead Carnage
Fat Tuesday Film Review (2018) – A Mardi Gras Killing Spree
Censor Film Review (2021) – A Tale of British Video Nasties
KKN di Desa Penari (2022) Film Review – A Bloated and Overhyped Bore
![Quinn Magick Bio](https://www.grimoireofhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Quinn-Photo.jpg)
Hello, I’m Quinn. Saying I’m deeply into fashion and Japanese culture is an understatement. We’ve renovated entire rooms of our house to dedicate to my collections of lolita and other Japanese fashions. I enjoy balancing the cute with the macabre, and the more disturbing it is, the more I’ll enjoy it. Thus, my love for Asian horror and manga was born. Thank you for taking the time to read my writings. I look forward to discussing films and aesthethics with you!