Is The Deformed Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1960)

📖 The Core Premise

The Deformed returns to the screen in 1960, bringing a fresh narrative to the various 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. "Nurse Leng Shuxian is forced by family circumstances to marry Long Yusheng (King Hu), a grossly disfigured Quasimodo with a heart of gold. Shuxian tries but is unable to accept his deformity and they remain a couple in name only. With the appearance of Yusheng's cousin, she has to make a choice between personal happiness and family duty. From the start, Loh's character and drove the action, evoking a great intensity of emotions along the way: suffering, resignation and loneliness. Loh was lauded as the "Queen of Tragedy" after her heart-wrenching portrayal in this film. Winner of two Golden Harvest Awards – for best screenplay and best black-and-white cinematography – at the 8th Asian Film Festival in 1961."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In The Deformed, even the presence of King Hu struggles to save a script that feels disjointed. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good cinema. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is The Deformed worth your time? If you appreciate various 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, The Deformed misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 99 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.