Only the River Flows(2023)
10/21/2023 (US)Thriller, Drama, Crime1h 42m
6.4
Overview
Dedicated police detective Ma Zhe is tasked with solving a series of brutal murders in a rural Chinese town. As pressure mounts from his superiors, a hasty arrest is made, but while his colleagues celebrate, several clues push Ma Zhe deeper into a desperate investigation of his own.
Kang Chunlei
Writer
Wei Shujun
Writer
Wei Shujun
Director
Top Billed Cast
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![Official UK Trailer [Subtitled]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LbgUJvkkxgg/hqdefault.jpg)
Official UK Trailer [Subtitled]
Trailer
Shujun Wei Interview
Featurette
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A review by Lachlan Thiele
6.0
Written on May 28, 2023
EXT. WHERE DOES THE RIVER STOP - DAY
Only The River Flows is my first Wei Shujun film, and it is now someone I'd like to explore as I adored many elements of this film.
First, it's shot on film 😍 which builds a beautiful atmosphere solidified through noir-style lightning and heavy smoking. I'm already on board any time a film noir style is present; Only The River Flows is solid throughout the first 80 minutes of the film, as it's fully engulfed in that crime noir storytelling. A cop hunts down a killer, and when an arrest is made, and the case can be shut, a thought of 'why' lingers on the officer's mind.
The plot intrigued me as it flowed into a psychological thriller, sometimes reminding me of Twin Peaks, which is a tremendous compliment. However, there is a literal 'BANG' at the minute 80 mark, and the final 20 minutes start going all over the place. I love where the film went during the final moments, involving a 'Twin Peaks' style dream sequence. However, the last act's apparent lack of cohesiveness ultimately disappoints — pulling my review from a solid four stars into a three.
FADE OUT.
Only The River Flows is my first Wei Shujun film, and it is now someone I'd like to explore as I adored many elements of this film.
First, it's shot on film 😍 which builds a beautiful atmosphere solidified through noir-style lightning and heavy smoking. I'm already on board any time a film noir style is present; Only The River Flows is solid throughout the first 80 minutes of the film, as it's fully engulfed in that crime noir storytelling. A cop hunts down a killer, and when an arrest is made, and the case can be shut, a thought of 'why' lingers on the officer's mind.
The plot intrigued me as it flowed into a psychological thriller, sometimes reminding me of Twin Peaks, which is a tremendous compliment. However, there is a literal 'BANG' at the minute 80 mark, and the final 20 minutes start going all over the place. I love where the film went during the final moments, involving a 'Twin Peaks' style dream sequence. However, the last act's apparent lack of cohesiveness ultimately disappoints — pulling my review from a solid four stars into a three.
FADE OUT.
