Review by Chris Rennirt
WARNING: This review contains what some may call be spoilers. Although I take great care to keep such information at a minimum, analysis and critique of a film require discussion of what are, sometimes, revealing details. As always, if you feel you are being informed of more than you want to know, at any point, please stop, wait to see the movie, and read the review later.
If you could have your choice of any birthday gift, what would it be? A diamond ring, a pearl necklace, tickets to your favorite vacation spot, a car, or any of the other usual, popular choices? Or, being honest, would it be something totally different! Could it, perhaps, be a guilty pleasure, something you’d never admit, something you’d never ask for–a deep, dark wish of depraved desire that would terrify “normal” people? Could it be something you desire, that is, as yet, unknown even to you? Make a Wish–the latest horror short produced by Edward Hong, Josephine Chang, and Diane Foster, written by Ivan Tsang, and directed by Dinh Thai–explores these questions and more, serving up a lover’s feast of bloody possibilities. Yes! On Freddie’s 30th birthday, he’s about to get something he’ll never forget!
“Happy birthday to you,” Freddie!
Make a Wish is not only horror, but also dark comedy–horror and comedy centering around another question (one that is far more basic): What would you do for love? Yes! It’s a question as old as the emotion, asked by many a scholar, philosopher, and lay person, with answers debated, challenged, and doubted. Going further (or perhaps I should say, “cutting deeper”), Make a Wish asks even more–and yes, here’s where the horror really begins. What would you do for love, if you got what you really wanted–that thing so unthinkable and forbidden, but surely wanted? What would you do if you received it, so lovingly as a gift, from the one you couldn’t be without? What if you discovered, with unexpected excitement, that you not only liked it, but loved it with passion? Without you appreciating the gift, your sweetheart might scream, “What the f#@k! Everything I do…EVERYTHING…is all for you, and you don’t even f#@king care!” How much worse could a birthday nightmare be!
Edward Hong (as Freddie) with a look that asks a thousand questions…at least!
Why am I asking so many questions in a review? (Yes! I know that’s what you’re thinking.) I normally ask a few, but, in reviewing Make a Wish, more are simply necessary. Why again? The movie cuts ever deeper into the layers of love, and the thoughts we have about it, both sane and insane. Such questions and thoughts are so much the focus of the movie that they are thrust upon us, as a part of the movie’s horrors. Revealing more–and answering the questions–would spoil the movie for sure. It is the “not knowing” (conversely, the anticipation of knowing) that actually makes Make a Wish, as I reconsider, a most exceptional genre threesome–one of horror, comedy, and suspense.
Josephine Chang (as Lexie) in Make a Wish
Make a Wish, as a triad of genres blended exceptionally, is complemented with exceptional moments in acting: moments granted copiously–as a director’s dream come true–by actor Josephine Chang (as Lexie). As the overcaring (and morbidly-overgenerous) girlfriend of Freddie (Edward Hong), Chang explodes with insanity that is fascinating to watch. Her tone ranges from lovingly calm to wickedly sarcastic, and other times berserk; the maniacal smile on her lipstick-smudged face is iconic–a potential, new femme fatale of horror, especially with her knife so cheerfully held. Yes! I truly enjoyed watching Chang perform; seeing her many nuances of expression requires repeat viewings. (Luckily encores are just a click away.) Although I am always reserved in saying that any one actor “steals the show,” I can say it here, indeed! Edward Hong (as Freddie) and Roman Moretti (as a character I won’t name) do what is needed for their role, and they do it well. But, playing the crazy person has its advantages; to be “the shining” example becomes truly possible. (Yes! Jack Nichlolson comes to mind right now!) “If you don’t take this little shit stain and send him back to hell, and prove your love to me…I’m gonna have to break up with you,” Chang says, and steals the show again! And, “Happy Birthday to You” has never been sung with such highs and lows of hysteria–as a musical metaphor; as a simile in a song. A delightfully devilish performance, indeed!
What’s to smile about in a horror film? With Freddie and Lexie, there’s a lot!
As a comedy, Make a Wish is served deliciously-dark. And, what a smart choice for the menu it is! A derangement/detachment-from-reality combo is supersized for maximum production values with Lexie’s levity. (Yes! Referring to Nicholson again, she’s that kind of “crazy funny” character.) Low-key complacency when fear should be soaring, tongue-in-cheek terror, and one liners galore keep the comedy coming from all directions. With this, Make a Wish uses humor most effectively, emphasizing and highlighting the horror ever more. More than a tasty treat or tempting teaser, it offers a buffet of possibilities for future feasts (and more about that later).
“Honey…remember the talk we had about sarcasm? I guess revenge is kind of like sarcasm.” ~ Freddie
And what about the violence and gore? Violence is there, on screen, when necessary, but not at all gratuitously. Gore, although certainly implied, is absent visually…and probably all the better because of it. A grotesque use of human flesh (as a vague definition without including a spoiler) is suggested; showing the details of this would be unnecessary, if not totally gratuitous in this film. Quite simply, Make a Wish is a movie that doesn’t need on-screen gore to do the job it sets out to do. Gore, instead, takes place just as well in the mind–in the nightmares of deleted scenes we add in our thoughts, directed by the movie’s motif, laughing all the way!
“So, do you want a small slice or a big slice?”
Finally, Make a Wish achieves something that few short films do; it makes us want more. Only if shorts are done right do they make us want more more beyond the end, more about the backstory, and more about the characters. They make us want a feature-length version, a sequel, a prequel, or at least another short-film chapter. Make a Wish makes me want all of those things. Another chance to see Josephine Chang return as Lexie is enough to make us, here at SJR, cross our fingers (or, perhaps, sharpen our knives with watering mouths) and hope!
“Crazy and hot. It’s my favorite combination.” ~ Character Whose Name I Won’t Reveal
Make a Wish is currently touring the film festival circuit around the world (in places too numerous to list), already collecting well-deserved awards and nominations: Liverpool Underground Film Festival – Best Short & Best Editing (June 2020 Edition); Sick ‘N’ Wrong Film Festival – Best Actor (Josephine Chang). (And how NOT surprised I am about that last award for Chang!) And, surely there are more to come. In the meantime, check out the trailer below; you’ll hear Josephine singing “Happy Birthday to You” in her “delightfully devilish” tone, and savor her “insanely-wicked” smile as she does–more than wetting your appetite for more! Also, check out director Dinh Thai’s biography below, follow the official Facebook page for Make a Wish, and look for the movie–all highly recommended! Oh, and like they say, be careful what you wish for! Someone you love might just get it for you!
And for one last teaser screenshot, what could this be? A lock and a chain. Oh, my!
“Like” and follow the Make a Wish movie on Facebook!
Follow actor/producer Edward Hong on Facebook!
Follow Edward Hong on Twitter @CinnabonMonster!
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY
“Dinh Thai is an Asian-American writer/director by way of commercial directing based in Los Angeles. Born in Vietnam, fled to France, and finally settling in Los Angeles, the 80s and 90s nurtured a fascinating cultural mix that strongly informs Dinh’s filmic approach and aesthetic. He brings a youthful, multi-cultural viewpoint to his creative and energetic productions. His work blends visual style with realism, focusing on social media influencers, dialogue, comedy, celebrities, and storytelling — all with strong musical influences. His commercial clients include Adidas, T-Mobile, Toyota, and the US Navy.”
“Dinh’s narrative work has aired on HBO and Cinemax. Specifically, MONDAY, a short film he wrote and directed has garnished over 50 festival awards and nominations, including first place in the inaugural HBO Asian Pacific American Visionaries competition, Outstanding Director, Outstanding Actor and Next Generation Filmmaker Award at the prestigious NBCU Shorts Festival, Best Direction at the New York Television Festival and The One Screen Festival, Best Short Film at CATALYST, and Best New Filmmaker of the Year at NFMLA.”
“Along with being in the Disney|ABC Director Program, Dinh has shadowed on American Horror Story (Ryan Murphy’s Half-Initiative), MAYANS M.C. (Fox 21 TV), and directed an episode of New Amsterdam (218 ‘Matter of Seconds”) through NBC’s Emerging Director Program. he is also actively pursuing film and TV directing assignments as well as developing a show based on his short film and other multicultural ideas.”
Rocket Rating – 10
Chris Rennirt (the author of this review) is a movie critic and writer in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as editor in chief at Space Jockey Reviews. He has been a judge at many film festivals, including Macabre Faire Film Festival and Crimson Screen Film Fest, and he attends horror and sci-fi conventions often. Chris’ movie reviews, articles, and interviews are published regularly on Space Jockey Reviews and in Effective Magazine. His mission statement (describing his goals as a movie critic and philosophy for review writing) can be found on the “Mission” page, here at SJR. For more information about Chris Rennirt (including contact details, publicity photos, and more), click here.
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