Movie Review: The Legend of Bayi's Grandpa (2024) - When Humans Are Never Truly Satisfied

 

The Legend of Bayi's Grandpa (Native Title: 常乐镇诡事) | 2024 | 1h 28m
Genre: Adventure/Horror/Mystery/Thriller | Country: China
Director: Yin Bo | Writers: Shi Sun, Xiaosha Zhang
Cast: Long Chang, Zhao Jiamin, Liu Bo
IMDb: 4.8
My Rate: 6/10

Hu Guohua tells his grandson, Bayi, about the glory days he once had as well as the mistakes that led him into ruin. His greed and constant dissatisfaction with the wealth he already possessed slowly destroyed the life he had built.

Warning:

Violence, sensual scenes

 

Synopsis:

Hu Guohua tries to clear up the misunderstanding his grandson, Bayi, has about him. Although their lives are now far from luxurious, the Hu family was once one of the wealthiest families in their area.

Guohua admits that it was his own greed that brought his family to destruction. Armed with a magical die that always guaranteed him victory, he spent his days at the gambling table. However, that luck came with one simple condition: the game had to end before midnight. When that rule was broken, his entire life changed in an instant.

After losing everything, Guohua meets Xiaohua, a blind flower seller who gradually helps him get back on his feet. Together with Xiaohua, he begins to find hope for rebuilding his life. However, when a second chance comes his way, the same greed once again pulls him down the path that previously ruined him.

Will Guohua learn from his mistakes, or will he lose everything precious in his life once again?

 
Review:

Wealth and riches are temptations that are difficult to resist. This is exactly what Guohua experiences in The Legend of Bayi's Grandpa. His dissatisfaction with what he already has drives him to constantly seek ways to increase his fortune, even though it ultimately leads him toward destruction.

The film presents its story in a fairly interesting way through a flashback narrative. Guohua, now an old man, tells his life story to Bayi. The audience seems to take Bayi's place, listening to and imagining his grandfather's journey from his perspective.

The combination of various themes is also handled quite well. Mystery, drama, romance, action, and a bit of comedy blend together into a colorful story. The characters are introduced naturally, with their backgrounds built up neatly.

The greatest enemy Guohua faces is not another person, but the greed growing within himself. This trait becomes a weakness that various people exploit to influence and trap him. His inner struggles feel fairly realistic throughout the story.

The ending delivers a twist that is genuinely difficult to predict. However, the surprise becomes a double-edged sword. On one hand, it successfully shocks the audience, but on the other hand, it feels somewhat unsatisfying because there are very few clues leading up to it. As a result, the audience's understanding of many of the supernatural events that occurred earlier changes abruptly.

Guohua's character development is one of the film's more interesting aspects. His transformation from an arrogant and greedy man into a wiser person is clearly portrayed. His relationship with Bayi also shows how life experiences have shaped him into someone different.

The performances are one of the film's strongest points. The actors deliver natural performances with good chemistry. The use of makeup also helps strengthen the atmosphere in certain scenes. The action scenes are not particularly numerous, but they are executed fairly well.

The choice of music and sound effects adds depth to the atmosphere. Camera movements, lighting, and the use of simple animations such as the appearance of rats blend smoothly into the story world without feeling distracting.

Unfortunately, the film has several weaknesses that cause the story to lose focus at times. Bayi, whose name is featured in the title, does not actually play a significant role beyond being the listener of his grandfather's story. Even his own background is barely explained.

The story's logic also becomes somewhat unclear after the twist is revealed. Many events that were previously believed to be real are eventually explained as illusions. However, the audience is never truly shown how those illusions worked or what actually happened in reality. A little more explanation regarding this would have made the ending feel more satisfying.

Another detail that feels somewhat unresolved is Guohua's statement during one part of the story about an event that led him to gain a wife. By the end of the film, the woman in question is never clearly shown. Not a single female character is actually depicted as remaining in Guohua's life.

In the end, The Legend of Bayi's Grandpa is not simply a story about luck, wealth, or the supernatural events experienced by Guohua. It speaks more about people who are never satisfied with what they have until they lose the things that are truly valuable. Although there are not many scenes that leave a lasting impression after the movie ends, Guohua's life journey still offers an interesting reflection on greed, regret, and second chances that do not always come twice.

 
Memorable Scene:

A scene that becomes a turning point for Guohua after a long journey filled with mistakes. Xiaohua's death leaves him with overwhelming sadness and guilt. That loss becomes the blow that finally forces him to look back at every decision he has ever made.

Greed and selfishness often make people focus too much on what they do not yet have, causing them to overlook the valuable things already around them. Ironically, that realization often comes only when it is too late. It is only after a loss truly happens that people understand the value of something they once assumed would always be there.

 
Memorable Quote:

"I just want to rely on my own two hands and earn money honestly."

 
Ending:

Happy Ending

 

Recommendation:

Okay to Watch

 

(Aluna Uwie)