King Kong Is Coming Back (2024) Chinese Movie Review: A Disappointing Knockoff Lacking Depth
King Kong Is Coming Back, a 2024 Chinese monster drama directed by Liu Hang and Liu Xinda, tries to ride the popularity of the King Kong legacy but ends up being a hollow imitation. Released on August 4, 2024, the film, also known in some versions as King Kong Returns, stars Dong Shaohui as Gu Yao, along with Yang Chengming, Ning Yue, and Sun Jianhong. Marketed as an action-adventure with sci-fi undertones, it promises thrills and a human–nature connection but delivers a shallow, poorly executed story that fails to entertain.
Plot and Themes
The story follows Gu Yao, who, after losing his father in a jungle accident, is rescued and raised by a giant gorilla. Fifteen years later, Gu Yao lives in the wild until he is discovered by an expedition team. When the greedy boss of the expedition seeks to capture the gorilla for profit, Gu Yao must fight to protect the only family he has ever known.
The themes of human–nature harmony and greed versus innocence are present but explored superficially. The film’s simplistic message and predictable conflicts make it feel more like a rough imitation of better monster films. Instead of creating awe or emotional weight, the narrative feels repetitive, rushed, and hollow.
Performances
Dong Shaohui does his best with the role of Gu Yao, but the character is one-dimensional and limited. His “wild man” portrayal feels more awkward than convincing.
Ning Yue as Ma Ke offers a few moments of sincerity, but her role is underwritten.
Yang Chengming and Wang Lei as the expedition leaders are forgettable, with clichéd family dynamics.
Sun Jianhong as the villain Ba Zeer is over-the-top and cartoonish, never truly threatening.
The cast struggles against weak writing and uninspired dialogue. Poor dubbing and incomplete audio tracks in some versions further drag down the performances.
Direction and Writing
The directors fail to bring originality to the monster genre. Instead, they recycle clichés—a noble savage hero, a greedy villain, and a misunderstood beast. The runtime (just over an hour) feels padded with repetitive jungle scenes and minimal action. The gorilla barely gets meaningful screen time, reduced to awkward running and clumsy fight sequences instead of being the awe-inspiring centerpiece.
The writing lacks vision, and the film feels rushed, with abrupt transitions and a lack of emotional buildup. The supposed bond between Gu Yao and the gorilla is barely developed, robbing the story of its potential heart.
Technical Aspects
Cinematography captures forest backdrops decently but lacks scale or grandeur.
CGI is the weakest point— the gorilla looks fake, poorly animated, and never intimidating. Instead of a kaiju-level King Kong, it resembles an oversized primate with no presence.
Audio and music are inconsistent, with some versions missing background score entirely.
Editing is sloppy, with abrupt cuts and pacing issues that make the film feel disjointed.
The low budget is obvious throughout, but even within those limits, the film fails to show creativity or polish.
Social Relevance and Impact
While it tries to talk about protecting nature, the message is so surface-level that it barely registers. The lack of cultural grounding and emotional depth makes it difficult for audiences to connect. Instead of leaving an impact, the film ends up being forgettable, dismissed as just another cheap knockoff.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Short runtime (less time wasted)
Occasional scenic jungle visuals
Weaknesses:
Poor CGI and laughable monster design
Weak and predictable screenplay
Flat performances with uninspired characters
Incomplete audio and technical glitches
No real sense of “monster movie” spectacle
Final Verdict
King Kong Is Coming Back is a very poorly made monster film that adds nothing new to the King Kong mythos. With terrible CGI, shallow writing, and clumsy direction, it ends up as a forgettable, low-quality knockoff. For Tamil and global audiences used to well-crafted storytelling, this is a massive letdown.
It is not worth your time in theaters or streaming—skip it unless you’re curious about how bad it is.
Rating: 0.5/5
Streaming Platform: DOD You Tube
Watch Review Video: Watch Now