Huo shan qing xue: A heavy, uneven watch

Is it worth the time?

Honestly, it depends on how much you like watching a slow burn turn into a bonfire of revenge. If you want a slick, modern pace, skip it. If you like classic tales where the stakes feel personal and the camera lingers on people’s faces until it gets uncomfortable, you’ll probably find something to love here.

It’s not perfect. It’s got that raw, dusty feeling that a lot of these older dramas possess. Sometimes the story feels like it's dragging its feet through the mud just to make sure you really, really understand how much the protagonist suffered.

The vibe

The first act is just relentless. They throw so much tragedy at Song Ke that I started to wonder if the movie was ever going to let him breathe. It’s heavy, almost suffocating, but it makes the later shift to a foreign country feel like a totally different movie.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Huo shan qing xue (1932) through its definitive frames.

I couldn't help but think about As Ye Repent while watching the way the characters handle their internal baggage. There’s that same sense that the past is just a ghost that refuses to leave the room.

Small observations from the notebook:

• The scene where the warlord's nephew enters the house? It’s shot from this weird, low angle that makes him look like a total creep, which is clearly the point.
• The dialogue gets a bit flowery, especially when they talk about grief. It’s not how real people talk, but it works in this context.
• The transition between the rural setting and the new country feels like a jolt. One minute you’re in a jail cell, the next you’re in a totally different landscape.
• That one background extra in the market scene definitely forgets his lines for a second. He just stands there looking confused. I loved it.

The movie gets noticeably better once it stops trying to be a pure tragedy and starts leaning into the cat-and-mouse game of the second half. Watching the nephew lose his power and try to blend into a new society is deliciously petty. You want him to pay, and the movie knows that.

It’s a bit uneven, sure. Some scenes go on about 20 seconds too long, and the silence starts to feel awkward rather than emotional. But there’s a heart here that beats pretty loud. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s real. It reminds me of the pacing in The Middleman, where the environment is just as much of a character as the guy playing the lead.

Anyway, give it a shot if you’re in the mood for something that doesn't mind being a little bit ugly. 🎞️