Betting with Ghost

Released in Indonesia on November 13, Betting With Ghost (original title Làm Giàu Với Ma), a Vietnamese film, had already premiered in several other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and Cambodia, as early as September. This horror-comedy, directed by Nguyen Nhat Trung and written by Vo Nguyen Dan, explores themes of gambling with a touch of family drama. Tuan Tran, Hoài Linh, and Diep Bao Ngoc deliver engaging performances as the film’s central characters.

The story follows Lanh (Tran), a young man living with his father, Mr. Ðạo (Linh). Lanh dreams of getting rich quickly through gambling, but his pursuits lead to constant trouble, including massive debts and entanglements with a gang. One day, while being chased by the gang for unpaid debts, Lanh hides in a dug grave that was about to be relocated and narrowly avoids being struck by lightning. After this incident, he gains the ability to see ghosts and is soon followed by a female ghost named Na (Ngoc). Na needs Lanh’s help to find her daughter, while Lanh seeks instant wealth. They strike a deal to fulfill each other’s goals, but this partnership comes at a cost—particularly for Mr. Ðạo.

Overall, the film presents an intriguing story with a unique plot twist. Lanh, despite his greed, is a likable protagonist. His gambling habit and tendency to avoid payingw money when he loses paint him as someone who shirks honest work, yet deep down, he is shown to be a kind and devoted character. Lanh’s portrayal stands out from typical gamblers, with motivations that go beyond mere greed. Tran’s performance adds depth to the character, making it hard for audiences to completely dislike him, even when his actions are clearly wrong.

In contrast, Mr. Ðạo is a proud, honest man, and the dynamic between the two characters creates an engaging father-son relationship. Linh’s portrayal of Mr. Ðạo further enhances the film’s immersive quality. However, despite its strong character writing and compelling premise, the story stumbles with an unsatisfying and overly forced resolution.

While the film effectively delivers surprising revelations and a well-packaged plot twist, these strengths are undermined by an ending that fails to show meaningful growth or reward for the protagonists. The characters of Lanh, Mr. Ðạo, and Na are crafted to be sympathetic, with deep motivations that engage the audience. However, the lack of a fulfilling conclusion for them makes their journey feel pointless.

Yes, gambling and seeking instant wealth are morally wrong and should not be glorified. However, given the emotional investment the filmmakers have built for these characters, the story would have benefited from scenes showing them experiencing some form of joy or success—however brief—before facing the consequences of their actions. This approach could have amplified the impact of their eventual downfall. Instead, the film offers a series of consequences with little payoff, leaving even their ghostly deal with Na seemingly fruitless.

The story is also riddled with plot holes. For example, the photo of a young girl on Na’s death altar, supposedly her daughter, becomes meaningless due to the twist at the end. Additionally, it’s unclear why Na doesn’t recognize her own child, especially since she was briefly with her baby after giving birth and before dying. Does she only become a ghost after being buried, or is there some delay in her transformation?

Despite being marketed as a horror-comedy, the film leans heavily into family drama, with far more emotional and father-son conflict scenes than comedic or horror elements. The ending feels especially out of place, failing to reflect the lightheartedness one might expect from its genre. The film would have benefited from a more balanced tone or at least a final scene that provided closure—showing the characters learning from their experiences or achieving some resolution, rather than leaving the audience with nothing but regret and disappointment.

That said, the story itself remains intriguing, with an unpredictable narrative and well-executed twists. However, it’s more fitting to call this a family drama than a horror-comedy, as it doesn’t explore its comedic or horror aspects deeply enough. If not for its rushed and unsatisfying resolution and unexplained plot holes, this film could have achieved a higher rating.