The Secret (1979) User Reviews (2)

A great Hong Kongese murder story

[maxalmonte · 6/10 · 9 January 2024]

A very entertaining mystery thriller that at times winks at the supernatural, but doesn't quite lean into it.

The film looks and feels exactly like what you would expect from a 1979 Hong Kongese independent film. At only 85 minutes of runtime, it is very fast-paced, which makes it entertaining and engaging. The acting is good, maybe one of the highlights of the film alongside the story.

And speaking about the story, it gets quite interesting towards the end. I honestly wish the film was remade. A modern-day interpretation of the story would be very enjoyable.

The Secret was my introduction to Ann Hui's work. I've gotten conflicting information about this film being or not her directorial debut. Whatever the case, I'm looking forward to seeing more of her work.

Ann Hui's First Movie

[cunningswine · 9/10 · 22 April 2003]

The movie is based on a true story where a young couple was brutally murdered by a madman in the 70's Hong Kong. Sylvia Cheung plays the dead girl's best friend and is trying to find out what's really happened to her friend. As the story unfolds, nothing is what it initially seems. Ann Hui's first and probably her best movie. The movie beautifully captures the atmosphere of the 70's Hong Kong, where the conflicting impacts of East and West were still obvious. A must-see for noir fans.