Written by Shalyn Thong
Edited by Trey Seah
Book in: A term used by Singaporean Men who are in the National Service, and means for the personnel to report back to their respective camp.
2359 was released in Singapore on the 3rd November 2011.
It’s a local movie set in 1983 Pulau Tekong (the place where most Singapore Men would start their National Service in), about an island haunted by the spirit of a Bomo (a spiritual medium) mother and child, and a soldier with a third eye.With such a plot, you could probably get a Hollywood movie, but that wouldn’t be a place that’s anywhere close to home, and it wouldn’t be a place Singaporean guys have gone to or would have to go to, unlike Pulau Tekong.
Scare rating for this first feature by Director Gilbert Chan didn’t do that well by the standards of Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Film Sound and Video Year 2 student Mark Alexander – he gave it about a 5 upon 10. Darren Tan, also a student of the same course who has yet to serve the National Service, was creeped out.
According to Darren, “the olden days the Kampong villages that populated our islands really had bomos. And Tekong is an island. The story might be true after all.”
Now if you’re looking for cheap thrills (Quarantine or the Hollywood remake of The Ring), you’re not gonna to get it in 2359. Rather, this film plays on the rumours about Pulau Tekong; ghost stories, strange sightings and other experiences.
The movie doesn’t state this anywhere, but Mark thinks the title’s number was used because NS men are taught to fear the time 11.59pm (2359). He said “In Basic Military Training Camp (located on Palau Tekong), if you’ve not booked in by that time, then you’re going to get it. *gives death stare*”
Read more about the movie here!
