“Always Be with You (2017): Why Louis Koo’s Hong Kong Movie Redefines Supernatural Thrillers”
Introduction: A Genre-Bending Masterpiece
In 2017, Always Be with You (常在你左右) emerged as a standout entry in Hong Kong’s supernatural thriller genre. Directed by Herman Yau and starring Louis Koo (古天乐), this film masterfully intertwines horror, dark comedy, and existential philosophy. While Western audiences might associate Asian horror with The Ring or The Grudge, this Chinese movie offers a distinctly Hong Kong flavor—blending Cantonese cultural nuances with universal themes of guilt and redemption .
Section 1: The Director’s Vision – Herman Yau’s Dark Symphony
Herman Yau, known for pushing boundaries in Hong Kong cinema (The Untold Story, Ebola Syndrome), adopts a more restrained yet equally impactful approach here. The film employs:
- Multi-narrative structure: Three interconnected stories triggered by a suicide, reminiscent of Magnolia but with Hong Kong’s urban claustrophobia.
- Visual symbolism: Recurring motifs like red umbrellas (representing lingering spirits) and shattered mirrors (duality of life/death).
- Sound design: A haunting score blending erhu (Chinese fiddle) with electronic tones creates unease without jump scares .
Section 2: Louis Koo’s Career-Defining Performance
Louis Koo, a veteran of over 100 Hong Kong films, delivers arguably his most nuanced role as Lam Chiu, a guilt-ridden taxi driver. Key acting layers include:
- Physical transformation: Koo lost 15 pounds to portray a sleepless, haunted man.
- Psychological depth: His character’s gradual breakdown mirrors Hong Kong’s collective anxiety during the 2010s social upheavals.
- Non-verbal acting: Notice how his trembling hands and darting eyes convey paranoia better than dialogue.
This performance earned Koo his 3rd Hong Kong Film Award nomination, cementing his status as a dramatic powerhouse beyond action roles .
Section 3: Cultural Hybridity – East Meets West in Horror
The film cleverly adapts Western thriller tropes to a Chinese context:
| Western Element | Hong Kong Adaptation |
|---|---|
| Final Girl trope | Male protagonist with Yin energy |
| Haunted houses | Cursed subdivided flats (棺材房) |
| Catholic exorcism | Taoist spirit mediums (問米) |
Particularly groundbreaking is the “Ghost Wedding” subplot—a traditional Chinese ritual turned into a commentary on capitalist excess, where a wealthy family marries their deceased son to a living woman .
Section 4: Hong Kong Identity Through Supernatural Lens
Beneath its scares, Always Be with You serves as an allegory for post-handover Hong Kong:
- The Suicide Catalyst: The jumper’s note “I can’t breathe” metaphorizes the city’s political suffocation.
- Interconnected Chaos: Characters from different social strata (taxi driver, hotel owner, mortician) mirror Hong Kong’s class divisions.
- Redemption Arc: The finale’s Taoist cleansing ritual parallels societal healing efforts.
This layering elevates it above typical horror fare, offering international viewers a window into Hong Kong’s socio-political psyche .
Section 5: Why Global Audiences Should Watch
- Cultural Education: Understand Chinese afterlife beliefs through scenes like “burning joss paper” and ancestor veneration.
- Cinematic Innovation: The film’s use of long takes in haunted spaces influenced later works like The Medium (2021).
- Universal Themes: Grief (the mourning mother subplot) and moral ambiguity (Koo’s cover-up of a crime) resonate across cultures.
Section 6: Viewing Guide for International Fans
- Subtle Details to Note:
- The recurring 1997 newspaper clippings (nod to Hong Kong’s handover).
- Mahjong tile sounds as a rhythmic motif.
- Pair With: For a double feature, watch Ann Hui’s The Way We Are (2008) to contrast Hong Kong’s spiritual and mundane realities.
Conclusion: A Gateway to Hong Kong Cinema
-Always Be with You* exemplifies why Hong Kong remains Asia’s storytelling powerhouse. Its 87% Douban rating and selection at the Osaka Asian Film Festival validate its cross-cultural appeal. For Western viewers seeking more than cheap thrills, this Chinese movie offers a haunting yet humane journey into the shadows of the human soul—and the city that never sleeps.
Where to Watch: Available with English subtitles on Hi-Yah! TV and Viki.