Peg O' My Heart Review

Hong Kong is well known for many genres of film, whether they be action or drama, but one genre that is not as widely recognised is horror. While the country has produced horror films, their impact on Western society and filmmaking is less compared to other Asian countries like South Korea or Japan. Heading into Nick Cheung’s latest film, Peg O’ My Heart, I was intrigued to see what psychological horror thriller aesthetic we would get and wanted it to succeed. Peg O’ My Heart takes massive swings, and while it is not always successful, it remains a wild and thrilling must-see experience.

We open on Dr. Man (Terrance Lau), a junior psychiatrist with unorthodox methods that breach many hospital policies and cross numerous ethical lines. Dr. Man believes that the only way to treat a patient is to get to the source of the problem, even if it means digging deep into a patient’s personal life. His methods yield results, but also bring him before the hospital board regarding his actions. While helping others, Dr. Man suffers from nightmares tied to his traumatic past involving his deceased mother, which he tries to suppress. However, when he encounters Choi (Nick Cheung), a taxi driver who cannot separate visions from reality due to sleep deprivation, he must help Choi confront his troubled past as well as address his own.

Dr. Man’s methods, especially in the beginning, are engaging from a narrative perspective but can also veer into problematic territory, particularly when he essentially guilt trips a victim of rape into getting an abortion. This sets the wrong tone for what the rest of the film is trying to convey, suggesting that there is more to addressing mental health or any health condition than merely prescribing pills.

Once we meet Choi and explore his background with his condition, the film transforms into something special. The way Choi’s visions and reality merge creates moments of true horror and is an impressive achievement of both practical and visual effects. A shot where Choi appears to be crushed by another vehicle delivers a genuinely effective scare. Many of the nightmare sequences are horrifying and delve into body and psychological horror. They stand out as the film’s most remarkable moments and elevate it in incredible ways.

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What is great is the acting; Terrance Lau as Dr. Man excels in portraying this doctor who is willing to bend the rules for his patients, even if it could cost him his career. It is also refreshing to see Terrance Lau in a non-action-oriented role, as his previous works that made it to UK cinemas include Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In and Stuntman. Nick Cheung is extraordinary and delivers an incredible performance. He essentially plays two versions of the same character, convincingly portraying both a man who is slowly losing his mind and a successful stockbroker. Fala Chen is also good as Choi’s wife Fiona, who is grappling with her mental health issues but contrasts with Choi as she continues to spiral deeper into her struggles.

My biggest gripe with the film is how neatly it ties up by the end; the overall mystery resolves in a tidy bow, which does not feel earned. It appears abrupt and comes out of nowhere, from the audience’s perspective, Dr. Man receives one piece of the puzzle and then instantly solves it. Additionally, the film presents a peculiar sequel-bait moment that seems out of place, especially as it introduces supernatural elements that were not established earlier in the film.

Peg O’ My Heart is, at its core, a solid horror/thriller film; while I feel it lacks a truly impactful ending, the entire film is effectively scary from beginning to end and stands apart from anything you have seen before in Hong Kong cinema. It is a worthwhile watch for any filmgoer looking to experience something genuinely unique.