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 there were many elements to this film that I absolutely adored.

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 for me. 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, but the apparent lack of cohesiveness in this last act ultimately disappoints. Pulling my review from a solid 4 stars into a 3.

FADE OUT.