Văn TuấnFirst Vietnamese Film to Explore the Survival Genre
Claws is a film that marks the return of director Le Thanh Son, known for Sweet 18, after a 7-year hiatus. This film is also the first in Vietnam to delve into the survival genre.
The film brings together the participation of many young faces that have caught the audience's attention, such as Tuan Tran, Nguyen Lam Thao Tam, Hong Thanh, Rocker Nguyen...
A scene from the film "Claws" (Photo: Film crew).
As of June 11, after nearly 1 week in theaters (including early screenings), Claws has only grossed nearly 3 billion VND in revenue, far behind other films released at the same time such as Legacy of the Outsider (25 billion VND), Bad Boys 4 (6 billion VND). Even the daily revenue of Claws pales in comparison to Face Off 7, a film that has been in theaters since April.
On the morning of June 11th, the film by Le Thanh Son had 652 screenings but only sold 1,070 tickets, indicating an average rate of only about 1.7 tickets per screening. Discussions about Claws on social media are also less lively compared to the Thai film that is causing a sensation, Legacy of the Outsider.
With the current slow ticket sales pace, Claws is unlikely to overturn the situation. The film is predicted to be another financial loss for the Vietnamese film market in 2024.
Previously, when talking about expectations for his "brainchild," director Le Thanh Son aimed for a revenue of 300 billion VND. "If the film reaches that number, we will be very happy. Because it is recognition from the audience rather than a capital investment issue," the director said.
Director, Actor with Hundred Billion VND Expectations Faced with Disappointment
Before its release, Claws was seen as an interesting test for the Vietnamese film market. Directed by Le Thanh Son - a "hundred billion VND director" with hit films like Dragon Trap, Sweet 18, the film was expected to be a highlight of this year's cinema.
However, the unexpectedly disappointing revenue of the film shows that it was not well received by Vietnamese audiences. Experts attribute this failure to various reasons, with the most important factor being that the film did not capture the public's taste.
Rocker Nguyen, Tuan Tran, Gi A Nguyen, and Quoc Khanh starring in the film (Photo: Film crew).
In the film, the director explores a camping trip in the deep forest of a group of 7 close friends. The characters face a ferocious bear, are isolated from the outside world, and must find a way to survive.
Many viewers commented that the film was decent in terms of special effects. The bear was created using CGI image simulation technology, with smooth, vivid movements. The young cast, attractive appearances, and some humorous lines in the film were also highlights.
However, the storyline of the film was criticized as unappealing. Many felt that the survival, "monster" combat theme was a bland, old-fashioned dish because Hollywood has been exploring it for a long time. When implemented in Vietnam, this content was considered unfamiliar, lacking intimacy, and not convincing enough to persuade viewers to go to the theaters.
Lead actress Nguyen Lam Thao Tam did not make a big impression on the audience (Photo: Film crew).
Expert Nguyen Phong Viet shared with Dan Tri reporters: "This will be the biggest 'disappointment' for Le Thanh Son. The case of Claws is similar to the film The Price of Happiness. The crew is meticulous, dedicated, the visual aspect is well invested, but the story in the film does not attract the audience. This is an issue of the dish not suiting the audience rather than the chef's poor cooking skills.
From my observations, on the first day of release, Claws had less than 1,000 screenings, which then decreased gradually each day. For a film to win in revenue, it must be scheduled for over 2,000 screenings per day from the start of the release. Theater complexes probably do not have too high expectations for the potential of the film."
Director Le Thanh Son (left) directing on the set (Photo: Film crew).
Mr. Nguyen Phong Viet further stated that Le Thanh Son had previously succeeded with Sweet 18 and Dragon Trap, but he is not a "box office guarantee" name with today's audience.
In the case of Tuan Tran, an actor who starred in many high-grossing films such as Mai, Loving Dad, Southern Forest Land... but this time, he did not have a strong foothold to create a ripple effect with the audience.
"Director Le Thanh Son has a reputation in the industry, but the young audience today may find him unfamiliar because he had quite a long break. In the cast, besides Tuan Tran, most are still young faces, not very familiar to the public.
It is agreed that Tuan Tran is currently one of the top male actors, with many hundred billion VND revenue films, but this time, Tuan Tran alone is not enough to create an effect that makes the film appealing, ignites discussions about the film and the cast.
After Claws, I think Tuan Tran will realize that his success in his career is tied to Trấn Thành. In previous films like Mai or Loving Dad, the name that attracted viewers to the theaters was not Tuan Tran but Trấn Thành. The actor enjoyed the 'residual effect' from the director," the expert analyzed.
