What are monsters? The creepy-crawlies you imagine under the bed or hiding in the closet? Hong Kong director Cho Kin-nam's movie, The Closet, says that the real monster may lie in your own heart.

The horror film, starring Francis Ng, Cheung Siu-fai and Michelle Ye, follows magician Luo Fei, who is tortured by his childhood nightmares and often sees the world as an ominous vaudeville show. His father, a sculpture artist, often abused Luo and locked him in the closet as punishment for his rebellious behavior, which led to Luo's twisted personality. Though he tries to put his life back on track and starts his own career, a monster always exists deep down in his heart.

Over the past decade, the Asian film industry has set the standard for the horror genre. With Hollywood remakes of The Ring and The Grudge both clocking millions of US dollars in ticket sales, horror films from Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea are making their mark and many Asian-inspired hits are on the way to cinemas around the world.

Hong Kong award-winning actor Francis Ng, Bullets Over Summer (1999) and 2000 A.D. (2000), plays Luo Fei. The intense and versatile Ng is regarded as one of the best actors working in Hong Kong today. In addition, the extreme aspects of Ng's persona, both on and off-screen, make the role a natural expression for him. These extremes, ranging from quiet and serious to quirky or maniacal, have earned him the nickname, "mental".

The Closet is being shown in cinemas from May 11 until the end of May.