The horror film “Cám” is making waves at the Vietnamese box office, grossing 50 billion VND in its opening week and claiming the top spot, far surpassing its competitors. The latest project from the director duo Trần Hữu Tấn and producer Hoà ng Quân offers a fresh perspective on the fairy tale of Tấm and Cám, highlighting the dark and twisted relationship between Tấm (Rima Thanh Vy) and Cám (Lâm Thanh Mỹ).
Despite its intriguing premise, “Cám” is not a flawless film in terms of logic. The plot still contains many unresolved issues, leaving viewers puzzled and bewildered.
The Power of the Chicken Head Necklace
From the very beginning of the film “Cám,” the chicken head necklace is introduced as a protective amulet that shields anyone who wears it from Bạch Lão. While Bạch Lão cannot physically harm the wearer, he can still manipulate their mind. This implies that Bạch Lão has other means to counter the necklace’s power, such as coercing the wearer to remove it or even controlling someone else to do so.
With the capabilities of a terrifying demon, Bạch Lão could easily “manipulate” Hai Hoà ng to hand Tấm over to him, rather than devising complicated schemes as shown in the film. There are several moments when Bạch Lão could have captured Tấm (especially before she donned the necklace), but perhaps due to “director’s orders,” he refrains from acting.
Bạch Lão’s Ambiguous Gender
One of the most intriguing characters in “Cám” is Bạch Lão, inspired by the fairy godmother with the familiar line, “Why are you crying?” Despite being a frightening figure, this character confuses viewers regarding gender, as they exhibit a feminine appearance (partly due to the performance of NSƯT Hạnh Thúy), yet some characters refer to them with masculine pronouns.
This ambiguity about Bạch Lão’s identity raises significant questions for viewers. In one scene with Tấm in a dark forest, Bạch Lão embodies an old woman reminiscent of how the witch in Snow White disguises herself to deceive the heroine. This further complicates the character’s gender identity as the film progresses.
Bạch Lão’s Abilities
Bạch Lão is inherently a terrifying evil force in “Cám.” He has one significant weakness: the chicken head necklace belonging to the Hai Hoà ng family. Aside from this, Bạch Lão fears nothing, and no one can harm him. Throughout the film, it’s clear that Bạch Lão seeks to capture Tấm, which would grant him immortality.
So why didn’t Bạch Lão act on this plot right from Tấm’s birth or when she was still a child? While he continues with his sacrificial rituals every ten years, he possesses the ability to lure young Tấm to him, successfully executing his plan. Before the necklace was given to Tấm, Bạch Lão could have easily obtained her rather than waiting for her to grow up. Perhaps, at the end of the day, Bạch Lão is a demon that’s “red but not wise.”
Bathing and Climbing Trees at Night
The 2024 version of “Cám” includes many classic details from the original tale, all intricately woven by director Trần Hữu Tấn. However, some scenes feel disjointed, seemingly added just to meet “KPI” metrics and making the film unnecessarily lengthy. For example, the much-anticipated scene of Tấm climbing the coconut tree was delivered rather blandly. Tấm is asked by Cám to climb the tree while it’s still light, but she only climbs when it’s dark. Nothing noteworthy happens, except for a brief tribute that lacks emphasis.
Apart from climbing trees, Cám also invites Tấm to bathe. Although they plan to go when the sun is still up, the sisters only head to the lake at night. While it’s understandable that the team wanted to create an eerie atmosphere, Tấm’s choices seem illogical. Furthermore, both Cám and Tấm bathe in the same river, yet Tấm always appears clean and tidy while Cám ends up muddy and dirty. Why is that?
The Lackluster Role of the Goby Fish
It’s evident that “Cám” features several characters whose presence seems merely to fill the ensemble without significant roles. Besides the prince, the goby fish is another such character. Unlike the original story, the goby fish does not appear in the film “Cám,” lacks magical abilities, does not aid Tấm, and is even “taken care of” by Cám.
Where is Cám’s Body for the Fish Sauce?
The final confrontation between Tấm and Cám leads to a bitter outcome: both sisters succumb to evil. Tấm is seduced by Bạch Lão in Cám’s body, removing the protective chicken head necklace and falling under his control. Bạch Lão skins Tấm, then transforms her to enter the palace disguised as the prince’s wife. At this juncture, several illogical points arise.
So how does Bạch Lão become Tấm? Two scenarios could be possible. First, Bạch Lão transforms into Tấm himself. Both Cám and Tấm are dead, and somehow he can become a new version of Tấm in flesh and blood to enter the palace. This would not make sense when the prince later defeats the fake Tấm. If this fake Tấm is 100% Bạch Lão, then it’s impossible for that body to give rise to a jackfruit tree afterwards.
Secondly, Bạch Lão could merely wear Tấm’s skin while still being himself inside Cám’s body. This means Cám’s body is still his to use, with only Tấm’s exterior covering. But then, whose body is turned into fish sauce? This presents a significant “gap” in the second hypothesis.
Thirdly, Bạch Lão could have fully entered Tấm’s body. If so, why go through the trouble of skinning Tấm? Why cause harm to the victim’s body? After skinning her, he would then have to reapply Tấm’s skin back onto her body, a cumbersome move for a villain. It is hoped that in the upcoming sequel, this plot point will be explained in greater detail and with more logic.
Tấm’s Aversion to the Jackfruit Scent
The detail of Tấm, Cám, and Bạch Lão at the end of the film becoming perplexing diminishes the convincingness of Tấm’s aversion to the jackfruit scent. At this point, Tấm is essentially dead, and within the fake Tấm’s body is Bạch Lão. However, at the beginning of the film, viewers only know that Cám detests the jackfruit scent, while it remains uncertain about the demon’s feelings. Introducing Bạch Lão’s aversion to the jackfruit scent feels somewhat forced, serving primarily for the prince to notice the discrepancy and later eliminate the fake Tấm, rather than truly fitting into the overall narrative.
Swift Conclusion Scene
With Tấm being the embodiment of evil, viewers eagerly anticipate a spectacular showdown between her and the prince. However, the final scene of “Cám” concludes with the prince arriving at the location where Tấm is dancing, drawing his sword and… it’s over. The remaining part is narrated through animation and voiceover without any expected battle unfolding.
This left viewers disappointed, especially regarding how the prince killed the fake Tấm. While he has the protective chicken head necklace, it merely serves a protective purpose and does not repel evil. Nevertheless, this abrupt, “non-climactic” ending seems intended for the team to conserve energy for the upcoming sequel, “Dị Bản Tấm Cám 2: Hoà ng Cung Dị Truyện,” which is likely to feature the long-awaited battle between the prince and the princess.
“Cám” is currently screening in theaters nationwide.
