Is CID: Four Moments of Life (Dawn, Noon, Dusk, Night) Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1976)

📖 The Core Premise

CID: Four Moments of Life (Dawn, Noon, Dusk, Night) returns to the screen in 1976, bringing a fresh narrative to the TV Movie genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Four episodes combined. Dawn: the first cop goes to interrogate the parents of a babygirl who got burnt by an iron. These, eventually admit to be the one responsible but they state it was an accident. Going back on a bus, he reads a newspaper article reporting another case of violence against minors. Noon: the moustached cop cop collects the report of a mother regarding the presence of perverts in her building. A thirteen-year-old girl is spotted with a man in equivocal acts: when she is interrogated she shows no signs of anxiety. Dusk: in a nursing home a guest kills another old man with an axe. He is interrogated by the older cop who, once back home, talks with his wife and daughter while watching sadly TV. Night: the fourth cop is in a disco when he gets the call that a collegue’s wife was the victim of a hit and run. The following morning he goes back to the office."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. Simon Yam attempts to elevate the material, but the direction leaves them with little to work with. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good TV Movie. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is CID: Four Moments of Life (Dawn, Noon, Dusk, Night) worth your time? If you appreciate TV Movie films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, CID: Four Moments of Life (Dawn, Noon, Dusk, Night) misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 50 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.