Film Review Detective Kien: The Headless Horror (2025) – Behind the Missing Head, There Is a Hidden Truth

 

Detective Kien: The Headless Horror | 2025 | 2h 11m
Genre: Folk Horror / Suspense Mystery / Drama / Horror / Mystery / Thriller
Country: Vietnam
Director: Victor Vu
Writers: Duc Nguyen, Hong Thai, Victor Vu
Cast: Quoc Huy, Doan Minh Anh, Pham Quynh Anh
IMDb: 6.7
My Rating: 8/10

Refusing to believe that her niece’s disappearance was caused by a water ghost, Moon asks Detective Kien for help to investigate the case. One discovery after another begins to surface, slowly unveiling a far more complex web of secrets.

Warning:

Contains scenes of violence and suicide.

 

Synopsis:

The village is shaken by the legend of a water ghost believed to take the heads of its victims. Eight lives have already been lost, and fear spreads rapidly. When Nga goes missing and her shoes are found by the riverbank, the villagers are convinced she is the next victim. Moon, however, refuses to believe it. With no body found, she is certain that Nga is still alive.

Facing despair and the villagers’ resignation—including the village head—Moon decides to act on her own. She seeks help from Detective Kien, a man known for exposing her husband’s corruption case. Kien arrives armed with logic, yet he does not ignore the deeply rooted myths that dominate the village.

Together, Moon and Kien trace Nga’s footsteps through the testimonies of those closest to her, uncovering a past long neglected. Slowly, fragments of information begin to form a pattern far darker than a mere ghost story.

Amid blinding beliefs and deliberately hidden secrets, one question continues to haunt them: was Nga truly a victim of legend—or a victim of the people living around her?

 

Review:

A mysterious case shakes a village, yet no one dares to take action. Fear has already taken control. Everyone agrees to blame the legendary figure believed to bring disaster. Detective Kien: The Headless Horror introduces a character brave enough to go against the current—Detective Kien, who previously appeared only as a minor character in The Last Wife (2023), now stands at the center of the story with logic as his weapon.

The film opens with serene and beautiful natural scenery. However, this calm slowly collapses as the camera moves closer, revealing the fear etched on the villagers’ faces. A headless corpse is found by the lakeside. This scene becomes a strong foundation, planting both mystery and dread that continue to grow throughout the film.

The conflict feels especially strong through Moon’s character. She refuses to believe that her niece Nga’s disappearance is the work of a water ghost, as the villagers claim. Under collective pressure and constant demands to give up, Moon chooses to hold on to hope and race against time—an inner conflict that makes the story feel deeply personal.

Moon and Kien’s investigation gradually uncovers other layers of conflict: suppressed love, ambition for power, and past resentment. These motives enrich the narrative without causing it to lose focus. The mystical elements remain present, but they function more as shadows accompanying logic, rather than overpowering it.

Toward the end, the mysteries are revealed in a fairly satisfying way. Character development is clear, although several fight scenes feel somewhat unnatural and slightly reduce the intensity of tension. Still, overall, the conflict resolution succeeds in delivering both emotional and narrative satisfaction.

The performances are convincing. Heavy themes feel lighter thanks to restrained characterization. Dialogue, expressions, intonation, and chemistry between characters blend well, making the film comfortable to follow.

From a technical standpoint, visual details are carefully handled—from the condition of the bodies, Nga’s shoes, to the monster’s appearance, which feels fairly realistic. The music effectively builds atmosphere without overpowering the scenes. The use of a back-and-forth timeline actually helps clarify the story, especially with its presentation from multiple perspectives.

In the end, Detective Kien: The Headless Horror is not just about a feared legend, but about the courage to think clearly amid mass panic—and the price that must be paid when truth confronts deeply rooted beliefs.

 

Memorable Scene:

Nga’s prolonged disappearance pushes Moon to lie in order to corner the culprit. For Kien, this move is dangerous—not only legally, but also in terms of evidence that must be accounted for before the bureaucracy. However, Moon insists. For her, rules can wait. What is at stake is not merely a case, but the life and death of someone she loves.

This scene highlights the clash between humanity and the system. When a life is on the line, bureaucracy—meant to protect—turns into an obstacle. Moon chooses to step into a gray area, fully aware of the risks, for the sake of a small chance to save Nga. A reminder that truth does not always come from obedience, but from the courage to take responsibility for one’s choices.

 
Memorable Dialogue:

“Life for a life, that’s fair.”

Ending:

Happy Ending

Recommendation:

Worth watching

(Aluna)