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RATING:  
Blood Ties is a gory tale of retribution, a social commentary on corruption, and a heartwarming lesson on familial loyalty rolled into one. It may sound like this mash-up of themes would result in something rather unwieldy, but young Singaporean director Chai Yee Wei manages to pull it off.
Somewhat a cross between a Hong Kong cop flick and a Thai horror film, the story centres on teenager Qin (newcomer Joey Leong), possessed by the spirit of her older brother Shun (Painted Skin's David Leong) and goes on a killing spree to avenge the murder of Shun and his wife (Maggie Lee).
Chai reveals a solid grasp of the two main genres he's tapping into. There's a hint of Infernal Affairs in there somewhere and horror fans won't be left wanting more.
Rather than go for cheap shock tactics early on, Chai wisely opts for a suspense-driven approach, unravelling a tale layered with flashbacks and counterpoints in a more unhurried, studied manner.
Acting vets Kenneth Tsang as police officer Woon and Cheng Pei Pei as the protagonists' mother provide solid understated acting, but it's young Joey Leong's, er, killer performance that truly impresses.
True, Blood Ties has its fair share of clichés, but we're inclined to turn a blind eye as there are enough original tricks up Chai's sleeve to hold our attention, Overall, an impressive debut.
- TODAY/yb
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