Mark is a director working in Taipei City who recently lost an important client. Reluctant to go back to his hometown Kaohsiung, an industrial town with severe pollution and no directing job, he decides to earn some quick money by making porn with his friend, Bugsy. However, while they are shooting the sex scenes on the rooftop, the worst smog arrives at the city and devours everything, including Mark's last hope to stay in Taipei.
“XXXMOG!” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
“XXXMOG!” is generally enjoyable yet still feels oddly unsatisfying. The early build-up here dedicated to Mark and Bugsy trying to keep the shoot going through all the usual trials and tribulations associated with low-quality film production is quite fun. Dealing with rushed productions, the need for expediency against creativity and temperamental actors doing their jobs and not used to dealing with outside resources offers a resoundingly engaging introduction. With this set against the backdrop of social commentary about pollution and the poisoning of the environment, the contrast between the bright and cheerful future they hope to achieve and the bleary present facing them is far more potent than expected. These all make for an entertaining short feature.
Where the short tends to come up short, though, is the wholly sedate tempo that opens “XXXMOG!” up. Director Cho Ting-wu has way too much build-up focusing on Mark and Bugsy's desire to stay in Taipei where they are working and are comfortable in the industry. Considering the shorter running time, taking far too much time on this setup makes for a slightly frustrating experience where seeing everything leading up to the threatening smog is a disservice. With that, there's a rapid change-of-pace into the industrial setting for the finale where they're both trapped and unable to do anything with their lives because of the events of the world. There's very little notice and it just cuts immediately between these two styles, making for a slightly jarring effect. Otherwise, “XXXMOG!” doesn't have too much else wrong with it.
