The Arrival of Wang (2011) User Reviews

Who knew it arrived!?

[asda-man · 6/10 · 25 September 2013]

I have never heard of The Arrival of Wang. The first I heard of it was on Film4 during the Frightfest season which they were having. Being quite the horror buff, I decided to give it a look on our very own IMDb only to find one review and zero description! It was clear to me that no one had seen it. However, seeing something without knowing nothing about it was an idea that sounded very appealing to me so I watched it without knowing nothing about it and what I got was a well done, low-budget and low-key thriller that offered something a little bit unique, but which is quite flawed.

I won't go too much into the plot because knowing nothing about it is something that I found quite intriguing. You put yourself right in the main character's shoes, so you feel as confused and alienated as she does. She's a translator who gets a mysterious call to go and do some translating. That's really all you need to know about it. What unfolds is some compelling dialogue and bad CGI. If I told you that most of the film plays out in one room, then you'd be understandably turned off. However, you shouldn't be. I was never bored in The Arrival of Wang thanks to the unique premise and well-handled screenplay. As long as you keep open minded, you're sure to find something to enjoy. It's also quite thought-provoking.

It's not all about talking though. There is also some well-executed scenes of thrills and tension which I shan't spoil for you. It's just a shame that this aspect wasn't used more because it added some much needed spice to the film. I felt like the whole thing ended too quickly and more could've been done. However, it's better to be too short than too long, right? There are also some seriously bad effects that are worth a mention. I know it's a low budget film, but they really shouldn't have included ambitious set-pieces if they knew that they couldn't pull them off. They could've at least tried to execute them with a bit of imagination and with as little CGI as possible.

However, The Arrival of Wang is a film worth seeing. I've seen much worse mainstream films and at least it's never boring. It offers something different and it always had me interested. The final line of dialogue also hit me quite hard. It's a great ending which leaves you with something to ponder about. Some of the plot can be quite predictable, however I found it difficult to pin point how the film was going to end and it didn't disappoint. In short, if you get the chance to see The Arrival of Wang please do. You also get a special feeling of belonging to a very small cult of people who have actually seen it. I imagine only six people have seen it so far, so you could be the seventh!

Like an extended episode of The Outer Limits

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 11 October 2013]

THE ARRIVAL OF WANG is a little-known, low-budget Italian sci-fi movie about a female translator, fluent in Mandarin, who finds herself undertaking the most unusual job of her career when contacted by a mysterious government branch. It starts off promisingly, provoking a sense of mystery and foreboding with its 'dark room' premise, but sadly it gets more and more ridiculous as the story progresses.

The main problem I had with the production is its reliance on CGI effects which look fairly ridiculous. A key twist early on had me bursting into laughter rather than being frightened as the female lead was. This transforms it into nothing more than an extended episode of THE OUTER LIMITS (circa 1990s), one which feels dragged out in places. Little happens, and when it's all over you wonder how they managed to fill the running time out.

There are some decent scenes and elements here, including a torture sequence or two which prove to be fairly hard-hitting, but I did find the story falling apart as the finishing line approached. The twist ending is anything but surprising, while the acting is little to write home about. It is a shame, because I believe with tighter realism and more focus on the human aspects of the tale this could have been great rather than average.

The less you know the better

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 6 May 2012]

Therefor I am not going to spoil the story for you. I'm not even going to touch the subject of genre (you can read that here on IMDb if you really want to though). But I will tell you this: If you are an avid fan of cinema and specifically of Korean cinema, than you might remember a movie that had a similar theme, but handled the whole thing better. That is not to say that this is a bad movie. Quite the opposite, this is quite good and has its moments.

The actors are good, the effects are good too (for a low budget movie). The story is kinda predictable, the dialogue is good too (especially the last sentence that our female protagonist hears is terrific). The mentioned sentence was something the filmmakers had to fight for (producers didn't seem to like it, but believe me, it worked with the Frightfest audience!).

An enjoyable sci fi suspense you'll want to talk about after you watch.

[ndichario · 7/10 · 17 August 2017]

It would be easy to be jaded about a film like this as we've all become so used to big-budget special effects, especially in fantascienza films. And, yes, it does meander a bit in the beginning before it starts getting interesting. But the performances of the main characters are spectacular, and there's a neat twist at the end of the movie that's worth waiting for, with some creative filming that may be low-budget but it stands out as fun and effective regardless.

The version I watched was in Italian with no English subtitles, but I only have a smattering of Italian at my disposal, and I can say you don't need to be fluent in the language to understand what's happening. Like most good science fiction and fantasy, it's as much about human nature as anything else. I think it's worth the 80- minute investment for fans of the genre. It also proves that you don't need a billion dollars to make a decent science fiction film; it's not all about the bling.

A solid, low budget Sci-Fi film that does more right than wrong

[FinalGuyHorror · 6/10 · 8 February 2016]

When translator Gaia is contacted by a previous employer, he seems to be offering her nothing more than a simple job. Two thousand Euros for a day's work seems like a pretty good deal, but when the mysterious Curti insists she wear a blindfold to travel to their destination the suspicion sets in that this may be a little more than a simple translation gig. I shan't say anymore for fear of spoiling things, but my advice would be that if you intend to watch this film you avoid as much detail as possible. In fact, I'd advise you just stop reading and go watch the film now. For those of you who need a little more convincing then please read on, but you have been warned.

While clearly a low budget picture, The Arrival of Wang is never the less a good example of how less can sometimes be more. This is most evident in the first two thirds of the film, where most of the action takes place in one room. Providing us with a disturbing glimpse into how we as a race are inclined to treat things that we do not understand, the film does a great job of contrasting Gaia's horror and compassion with Curti's distrust of, and hatred for, alien prisoner Wang, who has been discovered on the streets of Rome. Lead actress Francesca Cuttica does a great job as Gaia throughout, and her dread of what Curti is going to do as Wang continues to plead his innocence is palatable at points. Many have compared this film to the likes of The Twilight Zone and The X Files, but for me it has more in common with Neil Blomkamp's excellent alien flick District 9, playing on those same themes of fear and distrust for those who appear different.

Of course, that's not to say this film is on the same level as that South African classic. The creature effects are passable when the alien is seated (and we are provided with some real expressions of fear and pain when he is under interrogation) but tend to fall apart when he is in motion. The direction is decent without ever being great, and the story feels a little rushed in place, crying out for a little more build up between the big reveal and more time to let the tension increase before the admittedly lacklustre last 15 minutes.

Buoyed along by some good performances, a good script and some uncomfortable reminders of what probably awaits for ET should he ever decide to set foot on our little rock, The Arrival of Wang is a decent example of low budget Sci Fi done right. For fans of the genre, and anyone who likes their science fiction a little more ambiguous, it's definitely worth checking out.

An Extended "Outer Limits" Episode

[tabuno · 6/10 · 13 January 2019]

1 May 2016. This sci fi psychological thriller is an elongated version of a plot found in the more recent television episode of "The Outer Limits." While the European movie version script has its merits, especially in the beginning scenes with a rather nice use of blurred focus and more of a somewhat humanizing element of a number of primary characters there isn't much more this movie has to offer. The American dubbed version is competent in its translation it seems, the psychological intensity besides a somewhat stereotypical interrogator and the interaction between the female translator, interrogator, and stranger is fascinating. The psychological threat is actually on par with the Cuban Missile Crisis in a number of ways.

The Italian script seems to use a twist in the typical American sci fi themes as well as copying "Outer Limits" tendency to surprise its own American roots as well and to decent effect. The problem with this movie is that there isn't really anything new that hasn't been done before nor done with more budgetary quality considerations. The movie is intact with a nice beginning, middle, and end, though its seems rather sharp in its approach. Other movies that have more of an intensity and compelling cinematic experience would be Planet of the Vampires (1965), The Thing (1982), Alien: Resurrection (1997), Sphere (1998), K-Pax (2001), Splice (2010), Devil (2010), Ender's Game (2013), and Oblivion (2013).

The Arrival of Wang

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 3 December 2018]

As this film opens protagonist Gaia is working on translating a film from Mandarin into Italian when she is interrupted by a phone call. She is wanted for an emergency translation job for which she is offered two thousand euros for a few hours work. It soon becomes obvious that this won't be a usual job; she must wear a blindfold while travelling and the job is to be done in the dark so she can't see the man she is translating. The questions, and answers, seem a little strange... at appears the individual, Mr Wang, was picked up in a woman's house two weeks after she chased him away and the authorities want to know why he returned, where he stayed in those two weeks and most strangely why he is speaking Chinese. Later the lights are turned on and the last of those questions makes more sense... Gaia may have got herself into something much deeper than she expected.

When I picked up this DVD for 50p I had no real idea what it would be like but was intrigued by the idea of an Italian sci-fi movie... I wasn't disappointed when I watched it. It opened pretty well and only got better when we got to the interview room. Even though most of the film took place in this room it was tense and there was a great sense of mystery... is Mr Wang telling the truth, who are the people asking the questions and where did Mr Wang come from. If possible I'd recommend watching this knowing as little beforehand as possible, which is why I've kept descriptions vague, as it will improve the twists, which aren't too obvious. There are some disturbing moments as the interview first gets intense then involves torture. Some plot holes are a little hard to ignore, most obviously we just have to accept that this agency has to get in an outside translator to introduce a character who is morally offended by what is going on. The small cast does a solid job, most notably Francesca Cuttica, who plays Gaia and Ennio Fantastichini as Curti, the man asking the questions. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to sci-fi fans looking for something different.

Cost the same price as a Starbucks Latte to make!

[persia-25969 · 8/10 · 5 November 2016]

Wannnnnnnngggggggg!!! For a budget film which probably cost no more than the price of a latte to make,weve got to give it a little slack.First off it is an engrossing watch,yes the CGI is below standard (price of a latte remember)yes its confined to a single holding room for most of the time,but hell!! it IS thought provoking,it is clever and I must say I couldn't wait to find out what was the end scenario.No its not a mega blockbuster where film fans flock only to be let down by all the hype,its a film which will disappear into the corridors of time ,hardly seen by anyone and that is the sad truth.I gave it a chance,I watched,I enjoyed.Open your mind and let it in,there a far,far worse movie experiences out there than The Arrival of Wang! Weve all seen them.Yes its got flaws,yes its pretty hard watching at times,but stick with it, there are also some great moments as well.It is a great film as it does keep you guessing,the trick is to just remember its a film and my mind was entertained by a budget film,thats why I marked it a solid 8!The end line should be up there with the classic final film quotes!! Its a masterpiece. The question is:Does Wang come in peace? Or does he come to leave earth in pieces? You'll have to watch yourself....................

Amazingly Trippy and Weird

[rebeccax5 · 10/10 · 16 August 2021]

Shocked to see mediocre reviews. It's low budget but a masterpiece...no spoilers from me.