‘Pierce’ Review: A Saber-Sharp Sociopathy Thriller in Which Brotherly Love Duels With Suspicion
variety.comJessica Kiang The art of the thriller is the art of deception, the concealed trap, the hidden heart. In that way, it’s akin to art of fencing as outlined by three-time national champion Zihan (Tsao Yu-Ning) in Nelicia Low‘s taut, sophisticated debut: “Fencing is about hiding your true intentions from your opponent” he says.
But Zihan’s own face as he speaks is an unreadably handsome mask. He is coaching his impressionable, sweet-natured younger brother Zijie (Liu Hsiu-Fu) in the ways of saber strategy, but he is also coaching him in deception, possibly even sociopathy.
Zihan has only just been released from juvenile prison, where he has been incarcerated for seven years following the death of his opponent at the tip of Zihan’s broken blade during a bout.
Zihan insists it was an accident. Zijie longs to believe him. But their mother, Ai Ling (Ding Ning), a glamorous widow and nightclub singer, disagrees, convinced of her elder son’s malevolence.
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