'Henchmen' Review: Your Turn, La | Toronto After Dark 2021

Singapore's a country that holds a special place in my heart. I lived and worked there briefly, have many cherished friends from the sunny island, and my brother currently lives there. It's a place I enjoy visiting and even more importantly, a place with some of the most delicious food in the world. Given my love of film, I did explore the movie scene in Singapore in the past, and if I'm honest, I was left underwhelmed.

However, as with all things, context is important. Singapore is a young, small country, its economic focus is primarily on shipping, and as with most Asian cultures, Singaporean students aren't exactly encouraged to pursue the arts as a career. That being said, there is a new generation in Singapore that is looking to buck this trend, and Henchment director Alistair Quak can be counted as one of them.

Henchmen is everything you could ask for in a short film. It uses its run time effectively, sets its premise quickly, and executes it beautifully.

Douglas Lam and Peps Goh play two henchmen waiting in the back of the queue — waiting for their shot at the baddie threatening the gang leaders. As their fellow henchmen approach the baddie one by one, the two unnamed henchmen are filled with dread. Their attempt to get out of being henchmen is thwarted by the gang leaders who push them forward.

A simple moment that sends up every action film that with random henchmen bobbling in the background waiting their turn (so every action movie pretty much). Henchmen is clever, funny, and importantly showcases Singapore's famous 'Singlish' slang. I love that Quak didn't have his actors use a British or American accent. Instead, he celebrates the multi-lingual nature of the country in a hilarious script.

If it wasn't clear, I really enjoyed Henchmen. And if it's anything to go off of, we should all keep an eye on Singapore's film community in the years to come.

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival runs online from October 13 to 17.