Horror Short Film "Shop of Eternal Life" | ALTER Exclusive

[@WatchALTER]

A statement from director Yizhou Xu: "Shop of Eternal Life was shot three years ago during my study in ArtCenter College design. At that time, I was already made up my mind to go back to China. This film actually reflects my personal feelings on the eve of returning back home, I realized that I have a lot of conflicted thoughts about my country. I used to really believe in myself. I thought if I tried really hard in doing something, I would eventually succeed. I didn’t believe that there was a deity controlling people’s lives and playing with people’s fates. However, as I grew older, I started to have doubts about my beliefs. The deeper I dived into the real world, the more I felt small and useless. I feel like my fate is forever intertwined with my country’s fate. Because of that, I am extremely interested in modern Chinese history. From there, not only am I reading my country’s past but also looking into my own future. Nowadays, most films and books like to focus on the fast transformation of China. But for me, I’m more interested in the opposite subject, the persistence of the Chinese identity. Chinese history is divided into dozens of dynastic eras. What amazes me is that everything that is happening in China right now has already happened in a previous ruling regime. They may have looked different, had different names, used different currencies and held different ideologies, but the essence of them are all the same. So when people tell me that things are improving in China, I am somewhat skeptical. If Chinese history has taught me anything, it is that history is cyclical. There's an old saying in China: "You can carve mountains and alter rivers, but a person’s nature is unmovable." I believe the same applies for my country. For me, the most horrible thing is not ghost and monster but an inevitable fate that you can do nothing about it. This is the main inspiration of this film."

[@kaliyahjackson6926]

I LOOOOOVE YOU ALTER I BINGE WATCH YOUR CHANNEL ALL THE TIME I STAY ALTERED❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@lastcaress1314]

My feelings about my country as well. Hopeless and vulnerable

[@britayala359]

LOVE...ALTER 😈💋

[@Thoushallnoteat]

Lovely!

[@FIONA21ful]

@@lastcaress1314 Mine too if you are talking about Ireland.

[@SarahKhan-dw3sp]

I always found chinese, korean horror very intense..they dont have silly jumpsacares..but have very deep meaning.

[@alissa2791]

Mmm Although jumpscares are fun

[@emilysantos33]

Agreed I just started watching Korean movies and holy shit they are a trip

[@herheartbeats5727]

Agree with you. Don't know, maybe the work on faces. The movie-makers look like more aware about how the Human face expressions trigger emotions from the viewers...

[@lorenanascimentoassis]

I agreed

[@kaayakaaya4329]

Asian horror movies are get better than Hollywood horror movie only focus on stupid jumps scare and hire without any deeper meaning of the story.

[@binhnbt7896]

The shopkeeper was cursed until someone replace him to release his soul. He must be very happy when the man come back after trade thousand hearts

[@sophial.6633]

The part where the shopkeeper helped him position the stethoscope over his heart because he wasn’t sure where to put it, gave you a strong hint to the division of classes and how the very poor would not have been well educated. Making them easy to manipulate and take advantage of. Classism.

[@neverthesame7887]

excellent observation...so true!

[@billbigsby6197]

@Purge love the name

[@medicallife3486]

I see you in many alter comment section

[@valeriaalfaromoya7126]

i think the true reason why he couldn´t find his heart its becouse he forgot where it was

[@introvert1997]

@@valeriaalfaromoya7126 it seems more accurate,that true reason of educational gap between low and high classes lied not in poverty itself, but because education should take many years and,of course,had too high prices for lower-class peasants or citizen,whose only possibility to survive was inextricably linked to neverending hard labour - it was almost impossible for most of poor folks (unless they proved to have indeed much potential for science or law study at early age),as they were simply unable to reconcile work with education - in fact,most of them were illiterate at all,until red government's literacy campaigns.

[@samansarwar4205]

" Death is liberation..Living is difficult" Word.. wise man Word!

[@shwetakotnur9376]

Story is not about him trying to save his wife.. It's about how people trade their hearts and become all successful..(drinking human blood) is referred to cheating n stealing from poor n innocent people.. So that is wat explained in the story in order to get successful u have to become heartless.!!!... Brilliant work👏👏🙌

[@richardbidinger2577]

I guess I'll never ever be successful.

[@jmcdonald3937]

For someone people but even PEOPLE WITH HEARTS ARE SUCCESSFUL you just have to learn who those people are success comes in many forms.

[@jmcdonald3937]

@@richardbidinger2577 For someone people but even PEOPLE WITH HEARTS ARE SUCCESSFUL you just have to learn who those people are success comes in many forms.

[@neverthesame7887]

Hands down, in my opinion, this is one of the BEST ALTER films yet in terms of plot, characters, acting and especially its moral lesson. PLUS, it still kept you guessing because even though you thought you knew what the movie was teaching you, there really wasn't just one lesson, and in addition to that, there were a few good twists to it. Normally I hate endings that leave it up to the audience, but this ending was called for. We all have different hearts as so eloquently described (beginning at) 7:20, so that ending was the best being ambiguous.

[@syedaamena1075]

I didn't understand its moral can anyone plz tell me

[@Max_Le_Groom]

Perfect.

[@garyacker7388]

I have to agree with your opinion, it's one of the best.

[@LiZn228]

Agreed 💯 this is the best ALTER film I wish and I hope the director will make part 2 ..I mean I want to know what Mr sung doing after he living in that eternal life shop...did he became ghost traded for all human coming to his shop or what????this is make me confused 😢😢

[@kitfitzgeraldgiu4148]

This was a masterpiece. I can honestly state that no short film on ALTER has emotionally and psychologically moved me before watching your contribution. How you packed so much depth of history, human frailty and folly into 20 odd minutes is beyond me but successfully achieved this. Thank you.

[@Mokiefraggle]

This is so beautiful. From the sets to the story, just fascinating and beautiful. I loved the twisted conflation of the very Western image of the vampire with the ideas of the Eastern "hungry ghosts," and particularly the image of him handing over the bundles of money so clearly splattered with old, dried blood. It's both literally and figuratively blood money, but also a wonderful symbol of how truly incapable he is of caring about human social mores. He's not bothered by it, because it was yet another necessary evil to get what he wanted. That, along with the repeated symbolism of the wedding ring--the reminder of his soul that he left behind, possibly the true "heart" he left all along--and how it comes back to him in the end, is so intense. I love it.

[@DavidRodriguez-jt1ns]

Loved the story, desperation can make you do the unthinkable, in my contry we have a saying, " sometimes the remedy is worst than the disease". For all his sacrifice to save his wife, death was inevitable, he wound up living in his personal hell, careful what deal your willing to make, beautiful story.

[@raptimitra2672]

How come short films speak so much in such a little time whereas mainstream films don't even go halfway! Not saying that mainstream films aren't good... But short films resonates deep meaning that many long films fail to do!

[@GodofMasks]

Because a short film (or story) usually has one specific feeling or theme that it is trying to express and all of the elements that an artist puts into the story serve that theme. It's like eating a single bar of chocolate and more readily parsing the flavors that go into chocolate, giving you a deeper appreciation for chocolate as opposed to an ice cream sundae, which is great, but blends flavors rather than pushing them forward.

[@loneshewolf6015]

Moral of the story is "Don't trade your heart / don't lose your heart"...m

[@NishantjonyJaiswal]

To save other's heart?

[@loneshewolf6015]

@@NishantjonyJaiswal he traded his heart aka soul to the shop owner aka devil.... His wife was already going to die and due to being heart(soul)less he turned into a monster and still couldn't save his wife.... And finally turned into the devil himself....

[@DevilsDeal]

As someone who's lived in both Mainland China and Taiwan, I really liked this one.

[@yknight4240]

The man lied to him it's his soul he sold so he can walk around as long as his heart was pumping.

[@reychop]

That was a great metaphor! Wasn’t scary but very thought provoking. A must watch :)

[@LamiNalchor]

They really should make more movies, stories about these old Chinese shops, shopkeepers etc.

[@kpopaddict9457]

Dude I'm stunned, who needs more than an hour horror movie if you have Alter. Tbh this is really magnificent!

[@BLane-xr1ic]

Absolutely brilliant storyline. I would like to see a full movie. The man playing the main part was really good.

[@artcastro6920]

Incredible film. I was intrigued the ENTIRE time. Simple, yet very thought provoking. Does the director have other films??

[@philipb103]

This was simply incredible storytelling. Such an intense atmosphere, extremely gripping throughout. Superb performances from the two gentlemen 👏

[@haileyt857]

He just wanted to save his wife 😭 Really interesting story!

[@evemadams4100]

He probably drained his wife's blood when he got home.

[@haileyt857]

sadie girl That’s what I was thinking, too. He no longer had his heart- which held his desire to save his wife in the first place. Since that desire was basically removed from him... 🙁

[@AA14CBF]

You can check out anytime you want. But you can never leave.

[@lukaskubinec9608]

ALTER delivers again. This is one of the best movies I seen (even better than some independent full length movies). The life wisdoms shown within are on spot.

[@moniquevandeplas5210]

And this movie gave me deep feels and shivers from the early seconds/minutes...basically from time going down the stairs.

[@monicataylor6145]

This was extremely good and well done...the acting was awesome. The tension between them in Part 1 was intense. What I took from this is that desperation to can make the most moral person become a monster

[@shivanshinandi6613]

I literally love the videos of alter U may say just the best shortfilm channel I have ever wacthed on youtube

[@shivanshinandi6613]

*watched

[@caesarsalad493]

Even though I could tell how it was going to end from the beginning, I think it was beautifully executed and actually kept my attention. Absolutely wonderful

[@Thoushallnoteat]

The moment we give up our hearts , we give up on life. Lose the true essence of living. What then remains is just a shell of our former selves , and no way out of the darkness that we'd landed in. What's very impervious to remember is , once you shake hands with evil , you'll never ever be rid of its shadows. Life and death are two sides of the same coin. We must accept both. Once we lose our hearts , we can never become human again. Hold on to that tightly. Times will be tough. But we're in this together. All of us. Darkness will never , ever , lead you anywhere. Always remember that. You can't find your way out of a dark room without light. Stay powerful!

[@Thoushallnoteat]

@@icephoenix8023 Might be cliche but this is my opinion. I just felt like expressing it. Last time I checked , that was still a fundamental right , beautiful!

[@neverthesame7887]

What you said, Shruti, is so true except for "once you shake hands with evil, you'll never ever be rid of its shadows" In reality, evil is merely the absence of love. Once there is that absolute awareness of who you truly are, that being pure Divine Love, evil cannot exist, not even in shadow.

[@Thoushallnoteat]

@@neverthesame7887 So so so true!! Thank you very much for the piece of knowledge!

[@neverthesame7887]

@@Thoushallnoteat Thank you! That means a lot. I forgot to mention that I loved your first sentence: "...we give up our hearts, we give up on life!"

[@neverthesame7887]

@@icephoenix8023 cliches are cliches for a reason-because they come from truth. In light of such a beautiful movie, it is amazing to me that someone can still take the time to be mean to someone else. How'd that make you feel? Any better?

[@flashmonkey9179]

My favorite shot is where they were standing in front of the human anatomy posters the left poster was a body, the right poster a skeleton, and its symbolic to the men standing in front of them one has life the other lifeless and empty . Overall I loved this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@ewetn1]

Me too. It was really beautiful cinematography. It reminds me of an 18th century medical drawing I gifted my father for his last birthday.

[@sandnerdaniel]

This one is more philosophical than a common horror story. Well done. One of the best Alter shorts.

[@gallifrey1212]

I've watched a lot of the Alter short horror films, and this is easily one of the best -- if not THE best -- I've seen. Everything about it is perfect, and it felt more like a full-length movie.

[@nekochan1840]

so the previous shop owner was a vampire who had traded his heart a long time ago ,a heartless fellow he himself didn't want to live that life thus, death was liberating.....this is by far one of the best from alter loved it make sense as for [be it a democratic too ] the helpless poor are always troded upon love from India 🤩🤩👏👏👏

[@vijayashrees7947]

Watta storyline!!! Such an unimaginable concept. Made me think a lot. Climax showed it's never ending. But he always a vampire.. I loved watching this very different movie. 🤩🤩👏👏👏

[@alanbryant8457]

This is really good! To me it said what we would do to save somebody we love. Or hurt somebody we have known for a long time. Sands of time will tell!

[@davestonehill6177]

This was a good film. Atmosphere was good. Acting was good. Ending was good. Thumbs up here.

[@yvonnegumapac3830]

I love this kind of horror that signifies each element to portray humanity and life. A real horror indeed.

[@esrat2508]

20 years later the money’s value is not the same again

[@claireghethan6592]

"Death is liberation, living is difficult"

[@billiejean3921]

I was pretty excited when I realized it is a Chinese background horror movie.

[@billiejean3921]

The scenes are beautiful and authentic

[@paullevine1813]

This was one of the best stories in Alters catalog of Horror . Superb !!!!

[@barbarajoseph-adam8337]

Masterful, engrossing from start to finish, every frame marvellously-crafted - congratulations to everyone involved for a job extremely well done!

[@annadudziak7057]

THIS CULTURE IS SPECIAL MAGICAL IT'S BRINGING ALWAYS A MESSAGE INTO THIS WORLD THAT'S WHY I LOVE IT TOO RESPECT EVERY CULTURE EVERY LIFE CAUSE WE ALL COUNT AS HUMANS DARN IT

[@toddmeiers]

That was the best movie I’ve seen on this channel! Awesome , job.

[@yusefendure]

You could sense that this was a labor of conflicted love. This was poetry in motion, allegory, metaphor, and prophecy.

[@moniquevandeplas5210]

Your heart is the home of your soul and the ocean of your blood. Amazing line. Beautiful. I will try and throw that out at dinner parties...if we ever get back to having those. This movie was so unique and looped around so nicely. So may more things to say but for now. Wow. Fantastic

[@silviabukubuk6126]

Very deep! Dark and mystical! I loved it!

[@photomaster1]

I love stories that force you to think... not just about what you're watching but about yourself...

[@djswaleswritesbooks2213]

Xie xie ni! This is so accomplished. A smorgasbord of delights. Love the intense context of Chang Kai Shek and revolutionary China against this hidden residual trace of the ancient enchanted ways of the Middle Kingdom. ALTER always platforms great original work. I shared the link on Instagram.

[@coartramey7382]

Good script! Beautiful weaving of the outer world's upheavals with the men's inner turmoil.

[@onege4460]

I watch mainly Asian horror, particularly Korean and Japanese horror movies. They are really intense and lend to reflections and introspection on the human nature

[@contentedblack8198]

Sublime!! 🌟I loved how they were able to portray the basic human nature, its values and the bitter truth of life to convey the simple yet very deep message of "everything comes with a price; think before you transact"; How the grief changes people, cloud their judgement and make them go any lengths to save something that are dear to their heart. But yes, that is human behaviour for you, very hard to change and control once the heart and brain lose the coordination. Very well done! Kudos to the whole team and thank you Alter for bringing this Gem to us!!

[@danajane6674]

Perfect. Striking. Beautifully done. Thank you ALTER. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@beebeetee2926]

I agree, living is difficult. No one knows if there is truly an afterlife or not. For this reason, I wouldn't say death is easy.

[@danielhintzii5511]

Give a heart how am I supposed to live without a heart??????hu

[@Thoushallnoteat]

Exactly!

[@candycane45]

Thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Truly gets you thinking. There is always a price to pay...Thank you for this one. A favorite.

[@alexandragabitto2573]

Love how the empty box that used to hold the ashes is still in the curio cabinet when they fight at the end! Very nice thematic touch.

[@rw5258]

Great short! This was like a full feature movie. All of that and he wouldn’t have gotten it back and his wife still died. Just a lost shell of a man great story. Thanks for the upload Alter 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@Jerry-ln3nf]

''shop of eternal lyf" this episode was my favorite not scary, but i was interested to know one moment at a time, in the end the man got what he deserved!!!

[@kaitlyn8843]

it is scary, though. it may not be jumpscares or gore but it is psychologically horrifying to ponder or place yourself in.

[@mymath1313]

this film wasn't only about how wealthy merchants exploit the common people .. but also how often even those seemingly wealthy merchants are after all just puppets of the state and have no individual thinking at all.. the trader might be thought as greedy yet his words make us rethink the value of a dedicated life...

[@TheOfficialJvstice]

This was very meaningful & messages were overwhelmingly strong 🤞🏾 appreciate what you got now cause once the decision is made you can’t change your mind 💯

[@mariafranklin2443]

would love a part two

[@sarahriggs1850]

Amazing! Well done! SERIOUSLY, I am beyond words!

[@rapperelementm]

"Your watch is a fake."

[@magnetdesignandadver]

Incredible film! Love everything about it. Such a profound message. And those cheekbones are to die for!

[@T1DTrix]

These short films are amazing not too scary and not too happy-like. Overall in my opinion best horror film channel.

[@renamon5658]

Great story , hits right in the feels

[@aidafaure8489]

Absolutely enjoyed this one! Brilliant cinematography!

[@graceextra3595]

Absolutely genuis! 10/10

[@faridehnaghsh]

One of the best of Alter,, so many twists, lessons, morality. The gift of a good heart us the eternal advantage and the altimete benefits. Nevertheless, the ending made speechless. Thank you.

[@bensweiss]

Loved this short and the different perspectives on humanity, supernatural, and fate. More of this please.

[@ambassador8524]

Very good one! The audio is great.

[@phatwhacker3767]

I wish i was born with more thumbs to up

[@citizensguard3433]

Man... you really gotta watch this a couple times to fully analyze it. I have to check for more of this Yozhou Xu guy.

[@DadandThad]

Oh man! I see this as a series. This was next level and all done in one room or small set. What's next? No way someone doesn't pick this up and run with it!

[@tinyrocks7549]

You try to barter with Death, you fight for what you hold dear, for your beliefs and your youthful immortality, screaming It’s unfair!... but without accepting the things we cannot change-the passage of time, and the inevitable sorrows-we’ll only be stuck in limbo; restless, angry and disappointed. Life never promised you continuous happiness, you know ;)

[@RPRosen-ki2fk]

As time passes and I've gotten older, I've found you've stated a ... great truth.

[@tinyrocks7549]

R.P. Rosen Thank you, I got the chance these two last years to meditate over my stress. Wouldn’t have considered those thoughts above though if I hadn’t gotten into listening to talks by this old wise monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. Would recommend, so much. (I think his name is spelled like that. The yt-channel for his monestary is Plum village.)

[@gilchuson7007]

BEST ALTER EPISODE EVER ... Hands Down!!! 👏🏻

[@phillipholdsworth9075]

For this to be a short movie it's really good the price for his heart. Wow.

[@jeusgarcia6423]

LOTS OF TRUTH SPOKEN LOUDLY HERE...

[@javieraalfaro2462]

Sería bueno que agregaran subtitulos en español para la gente que no entiende o no sabe leer inglés ❣️

[@rafaelthewizard]

El va suplicando al dueño de la tienda para que lo ayude a curar a su esposa que está enferma, el dueño de la tienda le.dice que necesita 500 yuan para hacer el trabajo. El hombre desesperado le dice que no tiene nada que dar solo su anillo a lo que el dueño de la tienda responde el anillo es falso no vale nada agarra la moneda como un regalo. El hombre sujeta el cuchillo y el hombre de la tienda le dice mátame y todo será tuyo. El le ofrece algo a cambio quitarle su corazón, el hombre acepta y cuando le quita el corazón lo convierte en un vampiro le dice que beba sangre humana y evite el sol. También le dice vuelve en 20 años y regresame 20 veces la suma del dinero que te di hoy. 20 años más tarde regresa con el dinero, en busca de su corazón El dueño de la tienda le.pregunta cómo está su esposa, el responde muerta y lamentablemente cuando busca su corazón tampoco está el lo ha entregado a otra persona. El hombre asesina al dueño de la tienda y queda como ese rol atrapado ahí.

[@aarondelo5892]

This was an excellent movie. This is definitly worth a full movie or a mini series🔥

[@goddess_inblack_b3009]

I haven’t been watching the alter for long how ever I’m glad I subscribed 😌🤞🏾

[@krazykdon]

Mr. Song plays in another video I really liked. He is a good actor

[@elombard39]

That was amazing. I hated to see it end. Thank you!

[@billyjay4672]

Just brilliant I liked it very much, keep up the good work.

[@DNTMEE]

Moral: Be careful or you will become the thing you hate. Just as he seems to have become the shopkeeper. A man he hated and stated so at the beginning when he took up a knife and threatened him. He not only took the shopkeeper's possessions and position, but became him in soul, character, and thought as well. It may be he came to that realization at the end, thus the look on his face. Also, what was that at the end. He seemed to be sitting behind a nice large shiny table. Then, when the man entered, he was sitting behind the drab little counter. Or was that some sort of camera reflection?

[@onaughto]

Beautiful story.. I really enjoyed it. Everything was top tier. Well done.

[@ZagrebRocks]

This one is the best i seen on Alter so far.

[@asus12351]

This was awesome. Film makers should take note

[@azhaneeothman]

the shop owner keeps trading money for hearts with the hope of someone coming back to claim theirs back. if he's lucky, that person could kill him and end his eternal life. he had always wanted to end his suffering. he even offered his life and his shop at the beginning, he must have been tired of the long years he'd had to live. hands down the best one on the channel so far.

[@claireghethan6592]

What does the "watch" in the end stands for?

[@karanguragain9167]

Death is liberation , living is painful .

[@psyhydeluo5833]

The script is fantastic

[@timbrown4853]

Excellent...unpredictable and fulling to watch.

[@IitSibarani]

WOW! What a deep & thoughtful film. This short film is a super masterpiece. SUPERB! ❤️

[@Юлиус-п6ц]

One of the best Alter's video!

[@502C.r.H]

This is literally like live action ju jujutsu kaisen chapter or side story abosolutly has the vibes and premise of cursed energy, cursed people, curses in general and how more existing in reality than what we understand

[@johannahunderwood4596]

Really interesting, well done!

[@ambreenfatima5258]

Midnight sun released and this video.. Perfect timing

[@insalubriousdithyramb1742]

Truly brilliant. Really enjoyed this movie. Can anyone tell me where can I see more of this directors stuff?

[@shead3583]

Absolutely brilliant

[@stefaniab.b.639]

Eccellente. Questo breve film, ben recitato, racchiude una metafora sul tempo e sulla trasformazione di un intero paese, non solo di una persona attraverso il tempo che passa.