Black Coal, Thin Ice: Diao Yinan

Diao Yinan's Black Coal, Thin Ice is one of those puzzle-box Asian thrillers that aren't really meant to be watched only once. They sprinkle clues throughout the whole thing that only come together within the last few minutes or so. But even then, the clues are so minor that they can only be appreciated within the full context of the film's narrative--something that can only be gained after seeing the whole thing. Sometimes this results in films belly-flopping, like Na Hong-jin's The Wailing (2016), a superlative horror film that collapses in the last 10 minutes after realizing it isn't sure what the hell is going on anymore. Sadly, Black Coal, Thin Ice doesn't manage to keep things interesting. Despite being only 106 minutes, it feels three hours long. And that run-time is seemingly devoted to draining every drop of tension, dread, and fear from the thing. That was more than likely the point: depict characters who are as blank and empty as the snowy countrysides and cityscapes that populate their native northeast China. But it doesn't make for interesting cinema. The whole thing feels curiously bloated and unsubstantial.

6/10