Film Review: STONE TURTLE: Revenge Takes Flight in a Great Contrast of the Sexes in a Time Loop Film [Locarno 2022]

Stone Turtle Review

Stone Turtle (2022) Film Review from the 75th Annual Locarno Film Festival, a movie directed by Ming Jin Woo, written by Ming Jin Woo and Neesa Jamal and starring Asmara Abigail, Samara Kenzo, Bront Palarae and Maisarah Mazlan.

Stone Turtle is Malaysian filmmaker Ming Jin Woo’s amazingly detailed and well acted new time loop film. It is about a female character who clashes with a male one for almost the duration of the entire film. However, there is a lot going on in the movie deep underneath the surface of what it portrays. In fact, much of the plot development comes towards the ending of the picture as we finally start to put the pieces of the puzzle the movie presents together. What a joy it is to experience this movie even though it’s devastatingly somber and violent. One key ingredient to the film makes it so worthwhile and it is the picture’s lead actress Asmara Abigail who turns in work of the highest caliber.

This film is essentially about Zahara (Abigail) and her young niece, Nika (Samara Kenzo). As the movie opens, we learn the niece’s mother was killed in a violent death. Zahara tries to get Nika, who is just a child 10 years of age, into school. It’s not possible as Zahara lacks the appropriate documentation. When a man named Samad (Bront Palarae) enters into the picture, he seems like he could have something positive to contribute to the movie. Zahara seems to not have too much of an admiration for him, though.

Much of Stone Turtle is set on a beach. There is a bit of ambiguity in what is happening at first and when Zahara does a wicked little dance, she appears to have an agenda. It’s one that makes for a wild movie to behold. This film is like the Groundhog Day of indie cinema and Woo doesn’t miss any chances to develop his characters so when the movie does come to its final reveal, the events that we learn make sense and almost beg us to re-watch the entire movie for more clarity.

There is so much depth to the characters here. Rape, murder, and spirituality alongside familial bonds are all dealt with in equal doses. These are heavy topics to be sure and the movie doesn’t overlook the key dramatic substance of the story line in favor of escapism. Yes, events repeat themselves like scenes repeated in Groundhog Day but the movie delicately deals with the volatile subject matter.

Abigail spends much of the movie facing off with Samad. We don’t know why at first but he did something. Judging from the way Abigail violently deals with this man, he must have done something bad alongside his brother who is another key character in the picture. The movie rests on a tale of a male stone turtle whose female companion had to discover a flower in order to make the stone turtle come back to life. The movie reveals a happier version of the story before it closes in on the real purpose of the tale as the movie reaches its unsettling climax.

Stone Turtle is not a perfect movie. One particular disappointment I had with the movie was in how Woo deals with some of its men. For example, he has a key female character in the film telling a story about a man in her life who was obsessed with his penis size. This woman relaying the story relates it to her own personal secret desires. I wish Woo didn’t get so explicit in conveying what he wanted to in this part of the movie. I think it’s too general to provide this specific example of a man and woman with different desires. It’s a humorous scene in a movie that needs some comic relief but I think the movie gets off base just for that one spot in the picture.

Asmara Abigail is terrific in her role adding intensity, depth and a hard to duplicate fierceness to her character. She is in a “do or die” scenario in this movie where she has a mission that must be accomplished for the greater good. In fact, she does seemingly die a few times in the picture. It’s hard to talk about specifics without giving secrets of the plot away but Zahara is a strong independent woman and is really one of the best female characters I’ve seen recently. Kenzo, as Nika, is a compelling young performer that makes the most of her role. Palarae adds depth to his own role making the audience question his motives while we await the truth regarding his character.

Ultimately, Stone Turtle is a project that bites off a lot and chews most of it efficiently. Abigail is an exciting performer to watch and almost single-handedly leads the film to victory through her stellar performance under Woo’s proficient direction. Make no mistake. Stone Turtle has something to say about the difference between men and women. You just may not believe how on point some of it truly is. And, the revenge theme of the movie is well executed as well making the film a must-see.

Rating: 8.5/10

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