Midnight Caller
Director: Raymond Wong
Year: 1995
Rating: 6.0
I think this film
may have been originally conceived as a thriller, but then they must have
looked at some of the first rushes and turned to each other and said “what
the hell – lets make it a comedy!” And taking it from that perspective
– this film is not bad at all. I have to actually confess to finding it very
amusing in a corny way – but I’m just not sure how much of it is intentional.
Certainly the final dance sequence with Diana Pang Dan was not suppose to
be funny – I think I finally have found someone with less rhythm than I do
– but it is an absolutely tacky laugh riot. It is directed by Raymond Wong,
so very possibly it was meant as a comedy from the beginning.
Other than that though – this is one of Pang Dan’s most personable performances
as she is quite silly and quirky throughout and very willing to make fun
of herself. Anyone who is willing to allow a cockroach to crawl across her
face deserves kudos as far as I am concerned. That’s not to imply that Pang
Dan doesn’t use every opportunity to display her wares – two towel dropping
scenes ! – but the main focus of the film is on comedy. Maybe I was just
in the right mood – but much of this cracked me up.
Pang Dan is a late night talk DJ and one of her callers – Hungry Wolf – tells
her that he is going to blow up a hospital. Boom. Pang Dan tries to warn
cop Michael Wong (oh ya, Pang Dan and Michael Wong paired off in the same
film – a film critic’s most frightening nightmare) about the caller, but
he doesn’t believe her. Next night – the caller tells her he will blow up
a kindergarten – Wong again doesn’t listen to her. Oops – not a good career
move.
Finally Wong uses the talk show to try and track down the bomber – fails
of course – and now the bomber feeling betrayed tells Pang Dan that he is
going to kill her. This all generates about as much suspense as a glass of
warm milk and cookies. Wong and his partner - Joyce Ngai (the wonderful ghost
in Esprit D’Amour) are suppose to protect Pang Dan – but I would feel safer
with the Bowery Boys guarding me.
So if you go into this one – who knows you may be trapped on a desert island
with this and only this tape – don’t expect too many thrills – in fact nary
a one – but there are some laughs within and a surprisingly goofy and charming
performance from Pang Dan.
