A private detective with his heart in the right place but on the wrong side of his body sets out to fulfill a promise in this sleek dystopian revenge thriller
Disclaimer: I’m not familiar with the 2017 novel it’s inspired by, so book fans should take this review with a grain of salt.
What it's about
Jakarta, 2032. Due to his malfunctioning artificial heart, private detective Gaspar has only twenty four hours to live, so he spends his last hours investigating the human trafficking syndicate linked to the disappearance of his childhood friend Kirana.
The take
We would never know when we would die, but oftentimes, when faced with a deadline to one’s mortality, most would tie up loose ends, make the most of the time left, and reunite with their loved ones. 24 Hours with Gaspar is centered instead on the revenge of a grizzled, worn-out detective that only has one last regret: letting go of his childhood friend Kirana, not being able to find her. He hopes to enact his revenge by enlisting some friends and disgruntled victims of Wan Ali, who’s the most likely guy behind her disappearance. There are moments when the dialogue does falter, but Gaspar’s adventure is depicted in the most stylish way, complete with slick cinematography and a soundtrack that sets the mood for each turn in the mystery, even in a fairly depressing low tech dystopia. The film’s sci-fi might not be as hopeful as usual, and is mainly limited to Gaspar’s artificial heart, but 24 Hours with Gaspar is such a fun neo-noir mystery mash to watch, as long as you don't expect something akin to John Wick or Blade Runner.
What stands out
The score is so epic. The percussion heavy rhythm, paired with loud, bold brass and occasional bouts of strummed guitar, actually feels a bit reminiscent of something coming from a Western movie, which fits Gaspar’s personal revenge quest.