What I loved most: the "horrifying" element is up-to-standard...

What I really hated: the ending was delivered too abruptly...or is it "messy"?

i would say this film is a passable one... there are certain scenes where Shawn Yue would have fire his gun but missed the chance...ok anyway, all the characters pull of their roles well... I'm quite impressed with Fiona's performance when she got possessed by the ghost... but the ending...erm...tragic...haiz...

What I loved most: Progression of tension/cinematography

What I really hated: Trying-too-hard-to-please storyline...

Sadly, I am slightly disappointed by RULE #1. I've not seen THE FALLEN starring Denzel Washington, where some of the reviewers here have drawn similarities to. But it seems like Kelvin Tong has not produced anything good / works that are up to his capabilities after THE MAID. So what if his recent productions are beginning to get picked up by major distributors / producers like Andy Lau's Focus Films (for THE LOVE STORY) and Raintree Pictures? He seems to have forgotten how to tell a simple story without too much rush, buzz and fuss like his earlier works. In RULE #1, i just have a feel that he tries to pack too many details into the whole story - vengeance / dejection / regret with a HK cop story background mixed with a new horror twist plus a tinge of social highlight, eg. materialism among young girls. I also agree with some of the reviewers that the tempo of the film lost its track midway, esp. when it is revealed at the old cinema scene abt how the spirit gets to go 'auto-roaming' by simply touching another human being. It is a simple idea, and i like it. But to pack in too much info, esp. when Ekin's character tries to be nice and blabbers alot after that scene was just abit too much. (But then again, who can blame him and his excessive talking when there's only him and Shawn's character in the whole MAD dept, other than the admin clerk who whizzes abt in a wheelchair even though he isn't crippled?) :P I also couldn't reconcile with the ending, where it seems like Kelvin Tong is running out of time (and probably 35mm film) to explain the motive of the spirit and how vicious it is becoming with some more killings that it becomes unclear which human being is possessed with the spirit, as well as taking advantage of Fiona's character and only made it known to the audience with fleeting flashbacks before the ending credits. No wonder he said in a LHZB article on 16 Mar that editing a horror film requires 40 or more so frames, whereas it's easier to edit a general film with two - six frames. If Kelvin Tong could just deliver it much earlier and simpler, eg. in replacement of the scene at the nursing home abt the strange TV being switched on by itself / the swimming pool, he would probably have more time to explain the spirit's impetus and growing evil powers. Despite its disturbing and badly-explained ending, I am quite impressed with the cinematography of the whole film. It switches effortlessly from gloominess to reality, and I also like some of the subtlety, eg. the last scene where the spirit makes out with Fiona's character. I think it is seldom or even rare for Asian films to take note of such details - the laces of her night gown; the fairness of her neck - it was a fine line between art and eroticism, but this film succeeded in showing Life's simplicities as a beautiful form of visual art.

What I loved most: Schoolgirls offing themselves

What I really hated: Made me feel I have seen this movie before

So OK, I liked 'The Maid' and the many previews about this movie indicates it would be just as good if not better then the director's 2005 horror flick. It started off pretty interesting paving a way to an interesting story. However, as the movie gets midway through, I had a strange feeling as if I have seen this movie before. Then it struck me, Fallen (1998) starring Danzel Washington had the exact same plot (even if the storyline was almost as similar). That's when I lost interest and at the end of the movie I got disappointed because no effort was clearly made event to alter the ending (I will not reveal any further because its important to the story). If you have never seen Fallen(1998) this movie is actually pretty alrite but certain parts of the movie were left unanswered. Lastly, I have to say that I was looking forward to seeing Fiona Xie in this movie (as she is one hot babe) but the overdubbing made her appear kinda ....... odd.

What I loved most: The story based

What I really hated: The sad ending

Is actually a nice horror movie as e story based is quite new... Is reali a great improvement fr (The maid)... But reali hated the ending of the ghost hu killed so mani innocent pple, mostly gals, win all.... Reali sad for seeing Fiona Xie to end up like tat... Tink she is e most pitiful person in dis movie.... Hate to see her tears roll down e cheeks but cant speak out e pain in her heart....