Detective Kien: The Headless Horror [Movie Review]

Detective Kien: The Headless Horror [Movie Review] | One of my international friends invited me to watch the movie with her. To my surprise, I didn't even know that this movie is playing (I was totally unaware of the movie). 

I immediately agreed to her suggestion once I saw Horror in the title. 

SYNOPSIS

Detective Kien: The Headless Horror (2025) Trivia

• Starring: Quoc Huy, Doan Minh Anh, Pham Quynh Anh, Tran Qouc Anh, Qouc Cuong, Dinh Ngoc Diep, Trinh Tu Trung & My Uyen
• Director: Victor Vu
• Producer: 
• Production Company: Galaxy Studio & November Films

• Distributed by: 3388Films & GSC Movies

• Release date: July 17, 2025
• Running time: 131 minutes
• Rating: MA
• Country: Vietnam
• Language: Vietnamese
• IMDb: 7.2/ 10
• Tomatometer: NA
• Metascore: NA
• Loosely based on Ho Oan Han, Victor Vu reimagined most of the story, only 30–40% sticks to the original.
• Despite starring in The Last Wife, both Quoc Huy and Dinh Ngọc Diệp auditioned again for Detective Kien to ensure fair casting and to prove they fit the film’s fresh storyline and deeper character arcs. 
• Filmed in real 400-year-old villages like Khuổi Ky, the film oozes authentic period charm.  
• People’s Artist My Uyen’s role as Mrs. Vuong was kept under wraps until the press launch—her surprise casting added a powerful emotional punch and elevated the film’s biggest twists.
• Over 800 outfits were hand-sewn and dyed to authentically reflect Nguyễn Dynasty fashion—no replicas used.

The film begins when Miss Moon, desperate to find her missing niece Nga, writes to Detective Kien, an upright and methodical sleuth serving under the district judge. While villagers whisper about a mythical ma da or the Drowning Ghost that is said to decapitate its victims, Miss Moon believes Nga is still alive. With no body found, Kien is summoned to crack open the mystery.

The detective’s arrival disturbs the uneasy calm of the village, where fear and tradition reign. He encounters a cast of characters who may hold the truth: the kindly ceramist Thac, the stoic village chief and his elegant daughter Tuyet, the discontented servant Dong, and a shaman who peddles rituals and remedies. He senses that everyone has a story, and perhaps, a secret that each need to keep hidden, in light of the current mystery.

As Kien digs deeper, he walks the line between rational inquiry and ancient superstition. He’s not dismissive of the ghost stories but he’s more interested in tangible clues. 

A shoe left by the lake. Inconsistent testimonies. Secrets buried in the past. 

With Miss Moon by his side (although he was a bit reluctant to allow her to follow him during his investigations), Kien slowly starts to uncover the hidden truth about the village and Nga's past. 

Mixed with gossips around the village, his deduction almost slightly goes off-rail, if it was not for Miss Moon's persistent reminder that her niece is innocent and still alive. 

Will he manage to pull through amidst the muddy past of the village and will they manage to find Nga, dead or alive?

MY REVIEW

What I Like:  

• It feels so authentic and I learn a lot about Vietnam.
• The cast and their act is marvellous.
• A beautiful balance of detective story, love, comedy and horror element in a movie. 
• I hope more period horror and mystery movies like this appears on the silver screen - regardless of its origin.

What I Don't Like:

• None I would say 

Will I Watch It Again: Yes, I would. In fact, I'm gonna look for The Last Wife. 

Overall: 4.5/ 5.0

The pictures are taken from multiple sources on the Internet. Thank you.

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