Interactive film by S’pore filmmaker Royston Tan lets you ‘experience’ debilitating effects of drug abuse

Some of you might be familiar with the works of home-grown filmmaker Royston Tan. 

The 43-year-old, who has won over 40 international and local film awards, is known for his raw and honest films which tackle social issues and aim to challenge societal expectations.

Spending much of his childhood in a kampong, the trials and tribulations Tan experienced growing up can be glimpsed in the film’s harsh realities. His works seem to resonate well among Singaporeans, especially with the uniquely local topics he chooses.

Among his extensive filmography is Cut, a short film lambasting Singapore’s strict rules on censorship, and 881, centering around the local getai scene.

When I found out that Tan had directed a short film, titled HIGH, revolving around a young Singaporean abusing meth, my interest was piqued.

This isn’t the first time that drug abuse has featured in Tan’s films—arguably his most famous work is 15, a 2003 film that highlights the issues that teenage gangsters in Singapore face, such as juvenile delinquency and physical abuse. The film has since gained so much recognition it’s practically evolved into a local cult classic.

With HIGH, Tan zeroes in on the devastating consequences of drug abuse, showing how one misstep by the main character, Nick, could lead to the breakdown of the mind, body and familial relationships. 

The topic of drug abuse is particularly relevant, considering the reported increase in drug abuse recently. According to a Straits Times article, there was an 11 per cent increase in drug abusers between 2017 and 2018, 40 per cent of which were first-time offenders comprising those under the age of 30.

In HIGH, viewers are allowed to make choices for the main character at several defining moments in the film, and these choices will result in different endings.

It’s a similar format to Netflix’s Bandersnatch, an interactive film under the Black Mirror anthology series, where viewers can “choose-your-own-adventure”. Almost like a role-playing game, you know.

Bandersnatch sparked much debate and excitement considering how groundbreaking it is to have this level of interactivity on the television (or computer) screen.

Which makes the release of HIGH even more thrilling, as this will be Singapore’s very first short film with an interactive format.

I thus got comfortable in chair, settled with popcorn and a drink, and embarked on HIGH to see what ending I would be able to get from the film.

Because how else could you ‘try’ drugs safely?

Wow, dodged that bullet

I decided to stick to my values and morals as much as possible on my first try, just to see how far I could get.

The film starts off with the protagonist Nick, swiping around on a dating app (truly the mode of communication among millennials these days), when he matches with a girl called Sienna.

The pair start swapping flirty messages (duh) and Nick reveals that he currently stays in his own place. I don’t know which single 28-year-old can afford a house of their own considering Singapore’s housing prices without BTO-ing, but please, get me a job like that.

I then reach the first major decision in the film.

Sienna, the girl from the app, invites Nick to a party, asking he would like to “chill”.

I’m given 10 seconds to make a decision. Honestly if I just matched with a random girl on a dating app, what are the odds I, or anyone for that matter, would just agree to going out with a stranger on a whim? 

Not a chance. I don’t even like going out with acquaintances (yes, I sound like a hermit). So no thanks.

Sienna is, I presume, understandably disappointed, and Nick explains that he has a presentation tomorrow.

The scene then cuts to Nick at work the next day. Sienna asks Nick out to the party a second time. She’s persistent.

I’m going to ignore her. Again. Duh. Nick is in the middle of a meeting and has a presentation next. How will he afford the instalments for his luxurious bachelor pad if he gets fired for texting while his boss is talking?

Upon reaching his desk, Nick comes back to 156 unread messages and 22 missed calls from Sienna. The messages include her hurling vulgarities at him and demanding where he is.

Sienna also apparently sent him tons of pretty concerning videos, some showing her laughing, some of her experiencing a meltdown.

Wow, she’s clearly high on something. Not to mention the small baggies in some of her shots.

He sure dodged that bullet. You are welcome, Nick.

He proceeds to block her from his contacts, and the short film then ends, concluding one of the film’s several non-linear storylines.

Hyperactivity and delusions

I decided to try my hand at ‘playing’ a second time. Maybe this time I would let Nick try drugs once, just to see the consequences.

And after all, what’s not to like about playing God?

Starting off from Sienna’s first invitation to the party, I choose yes this time.

This is where we meet Sienna for the first time, the mysterious girl online.

As Nick enters the pretty funky pad, the party, as most Singaporeans might describe, looks rather rabak. 

The room is awash in hues of pink and purple, people are gyrating and making out on the dance floor, vapes in hand and rolled-up drugs are being passed around.

It admittedly makes for some rather pleasing visuals, and one shot of Nick stepping through a cloud of smoke is particularly striking.

From a conversation between Nick and Sienna later on at a balcony, it becomes clear that “chill”, which was mentioned previously in the film and which I just took to mean “relax” (you know, the most common interpretation), is actually lingo for meth.

Sienna says: “I mean, people say it’s scary addictive, but I don’t think so la.” She then cheekily asks Nick to try it if he wants to know what it feels like.

Surrounded by Sienna and her friends, I chose to let Nick loosen up and smoke some drugs from a bong.

Things then descend into a messy haze of euphoria after that.

The next day, Nick, clearly continues to still experience the post-meth high, as can be seen when he meticulously and obsessively cleans his house.

A quick Google search shows that one of the effects of meth following the initial high is an elevated state of hyperactivity, which can be characterised by aggressive or obsessive-compulsive behaviour. This stage could last between four to 14 hours.

Dylan, Sienna’s friend and the host of the previous party, then invites him to another party. 

Dylan really needs to take a break. 

After blocking him, Nick then meets up with his sister Wen at a cafe. He confesses in a conspiratorial whisper that he took meth. 

Wen originally laughs it off, believing he’s joking until she realises he’s being serious, and her reaction transforms into one of shock and concern.

“Wait, you took drugs? Are you f*cking crazy?”

Nick remains on the defensive side until Wen shares a story about a “hardcore” university friend who was caught doing meth. Police then searched through all the contacts in his phone, she said, looking for people who he had done meth with.

“You think your little friends will save you?” she asks.

When Sienna texts Nick asking if he would like to “chill again”, this time, I chose the negative answer. 

I figured when loved ones intervene, it’s best to listen, especially when they only have good intentions and your best interests at heart.

And it’s lucky I rejected Sienna, considering the effects of meth are slowly becoming more pronounced—Nick starts to have visions of an elderly man lurking in the background.

The storyline then ends as Nick looks around in paranoia, to a slowly ascending cacophony of white noise.

HIGH was a great experience for those curious to know about the consequences of drug abuse, and it was further bolstered by realistic acting and visually appealing cinematography.

I played through all the endings, and frankly, one of the alternate storylines results in a rather shocking, but impactful ending.

If HIGH has managed to arouse your curiosity with its slick visuals, convincing acting, and the freedom to choose how the film progresses, perhaps you might be inclined to check out what the other two endings are by watching HIGH via this link.

This sponsored piece had our writer marveling at the acting and visuals of the film. 

Top image by Ashley Tan