#this + the bad kids spells out a very promising future for the c-drama crime genre

[dramavixen]

watch this! – a murderous affair in horizon tower

Hello there! I’m back with another gem of a drama to shove in your face recommend! Perhaps you’ve already heard of it, considering its popularity over in the Mainland webisphere: A Murderous Affair in Horizon Tower (摩天大楼). Let’s get into it (spoiler-free, as usual):

What is it?

Horizon Tower follows a police officer duo as they investigate the murder of a woman who lived and died in an apartment complex. Each of the apartment’s residents appear to be hiding something significant (the tagline on the poster above reads, “every person has their own secret; who are you more willing to trust?”). The more clues that surface, the more obvious it becomes that the victim is not your average woman—and her death is not your average murder.

16 episodes total, each clocking in at ~40 min/episode. This format allows for snappy plot twists that keep you on your toes while building something of much bigger circumstance in the background.

Horizon Tower is about as close to pure mystery as a drama can get, where most of your enjoyment is rooted in deciphering clues and making deductions about each suspect. This is a show whose face may be the murder, but whose golden contents are its characters.

Classic "whodunnit” story combined with underlying, soft suspense. You are presented with suspect after suspect, each one more secretive than the last. You know when someone’s lying, but you quickly learn how difficult it is to discern how much of what they say is fabricated. If you manage to emerge at the end of the finale without a heightened sense of paranoia, I will kowtow at your feet.

Why watch?

A+ acting – I know some of you are going to look at the cast list, see Angelababy, and make the fastest u-turn out of here, but STOP! Don’t worry, she’s playing a dead person. Even for her, that can’t be challenging. Jokes aside (I am only half-joking), while her acting here isn’t anything award-worthy, the casting decision mostly works. Much of the drama’s allure relies on her character being a total mystery. A majority of what we learn about her is not discovered through her: we only see her through the eyes of other people. Hence, Angelababy’s...uh...calm mien is ultimately beneficial in creating the image of someone whom you will never understand in full. ...Look, I’m trying here. Please give me some credit.

As for the rest of the actors, you'll come to appreciate all of them for their  interpretations of their characters. Everyone’s acting is spot-on and sucks you into the mystery. The two officers that you tag along with are quirky in their own ways: they are two individuals with fundamentally different philosophies on how to approach life and investigations, and that produces a good amount of interesting interactions. Most of the suspects are eccentric, but they never seem outlandishly so due to the actors’ natural movements and speech.

Aaaaaand personal brownie point for Jin Shijia because I chortled out of sheer glee when he showed up for the first time. (Anyone who’s watched Twenty Your Life On will be wildly entertained to see what his role—albeit minor—is in this drama.) Self-indulgent screenshot because look how dumb cute:

Doesn't insult your intelligence – unsurprisingly, this drama relies on plot twists. They’ll have you at the edge of your seat, but nothing is included just for shock value. You know what I’m referring to; those shows where the writers sit down and are determined to have the viewers' jaws drop once the culprit is revealed, even if it means sacrificing something like, oh, fundamental logic? Horizon Tower isn't like that: if you pay close attention, it's possible to predict the motivations behind each person’s actions since the show’s logic connects from beginning to end (mostly, ignoring a few forgivable plot holes). If you’re in the mood to use your brain while watching a drama, then I think you’ll have a great time with this one. Friendly suggestion: plan to hunker down and not budge until you’re done. Prep hours and hours worth of popcorn for sustenance. Stock up on water. I watched this over the period of a week, getting through a couple of episodes a day. Having to get through an entire week before finding out the truth behind the murder was a true test of my sanity. Just. Would not recommend.

Social commentary – while most dramas nowadays address issues like sexism, class division, familial relationships, etc., the degree to which they’re successful in doing so tends to be hit or miss. For example, I can think of several “feminist” dramas whose portrayal of empowerment are exaggerated and/or insincere, which damages the overall message. Due to the writers’ efforts, Horizon Tower doesn’t fall into such a category. Every character's story represents a certain facet of human and social flaws and are completely believable. When all mixed together and put within the context of a murder, they intertwine into an image that appears confusing, but ultimately forms a clear picture of the circumstances behind our lady’s death and the tragedies in others’ lives. Personally, I find this to be the main selling point of the drama. First and foremost, it has an enrapturing plot, but it also showcases a bond to reality that cannot be severed. Horizon Tower’s social commentary is tied quietly with the characters and the storyline, and that natural integration is why it’s so effective.

Killer (haha) soundtrack – great instrumentals to pair with every moment. (Truthfully, I have a soft spot for shows that only use lyric-less music during episodes. The immersion!) Classical music is an especially important theme, and I was satisfied with the extent to which it was capitalized on. And the ending theme is fantastic. When you hear the opening notes of it play right as a character says something crucial, and then credits roll? Oof. Goosebumps. 

Sets the mood – the editing rouses something in your gut that makes you infuriatingly curious about who the killer is. Whereas other crime shows may have you saying, “oh I guess it could be that guy,” Horizon Tower is more than likely to push you into a fire pit of masochistic frustration as you try to figure out the culprit’s identity. The atmosphere swings back and forth between solemn and foreboding due to muted colors and smartly manipulated angles. You’ll often be faced with snippets of flashbacks and sounds that are impossible to piece together until the last episode. Overall, the show shines in how it captures the intensity of a moment and a character’s entire personality in a single shot.

To say Horizon Tower is perfect would be a tough argument to uphold, but it’s definitely an exciting watch that’s worth every bit of your attention. This is what I wish more crime/mystery shows would seek to be.

And now that I’ve finished this show at last, I can now get a good night’s rest for the first time in a week. Sweet dreams.