This low budget movie sure has some moves.
Crystal J. Huang is an international award winning dancer and photographer, who also has acting roles in films you’ve probably haven’t heard of. She also has directed some videos and short films like “Psychiatric Diary,” “The Path to Spring,” and “Beyond Joy Luck Club.” In fact, she appeared in the stage version of “The Joy Luck Club.”
She also makes her feature directorial debut of “Dark Feathers: Dance of the Giesha,” which is a low budget Asian American movie that loves Quentin Tarantino and Bruce Lee movies, as well as the art of dancing and martial arts. I mean, yes, some of the supporting actors are corny and the black fade in and fade outs are typical, but Huang acts and directs this movie like a passion project. It’s funny I mention that because Chris Pine made his passion project of “Poolman,” which played like a parody of “Chinatown.” I’m very happy he had fun making that movie, but I still thought it was wasted. “Dark Feathers: Dance of the Geisha,” however, has better ambitions and beautiful choreography and cinematography.
Huang casts herself as Kate, a graceful dance student and photographer in California, who is also part of a historic Asian clan, overseen by Master Kensei (Michael Madsen, who actually appeared in the “Kill Bill” movies) and Princess Ado (Lan Kay). And she must keep her loyalty to the heritage in tact. This organization is also into some shady stuff, regarding the deaths of Kate’s former partners, and there’s no proof she took care of them.
This requires the detective Remi (Gilles Marini) to get to the bottom of it, and so, he poses as her new dance partner. He’s also married to a dance instructor named Amelia (Karina Smirnoff), who thinks he’s having an affair with Kate, especially since she is wearing the sold-out golden shoes the wife wanted. But eventually, Kate and Amelia spark something together, the kind that gives the main heroine a path choice.
This has only been playing at a few theaters in Colorado, Oregon, Texas, and Washington last summer, and I was asked to take a look at it at this time. I think in the independent circuit, it should expand to some more theaters or at least on streaming services, because of its low budget appeal that has so many questions regarding the activities the main heroine is part of. What is underneath the dancing? What does her background pertain? And what’s the danger of it all?
“Dark Feathers” was also co-directed by Nicholas Ryan, whose background regards being a production assistant for movies like “Mission: Impossible III” and “World Trade Center” and as a first assistant director and background actor on a lot of small time films. His collaboration with Huang isn’t perfect, but it does have an interesting concept that we can appreciate within this particular genre.
Looking back at this movie, I think that Huang has the tone and consistency of a young Michelle Yeoh, and she has a great pedigree to step up her game. And I like when psychological thrillers tests our minds, like how Zoe Kravitz’ directorial debut of “Blink Twice” did. So let the genre tango a bit.