TIFF 2026: ‘Arrested Memory’ Wobbles In Its Disjointed Escapade

Lapses in memory can be terrifying. Contributing to a loss of self, it’s an unprecedented loss of control that no one can prepare for, and that can push a person into dangerous situations if left unchecked. In Arrested Memory, SABU‘s latest venture into the procedural genre, a detective encounters this very predicament taken to an absurdist extreme, creating a feeling of distortion and proverbial whiplash as he gets pulled every which way (as does the audience). And while it doesn’t always come together, the darkly comedic tones thankfully distract.

Arrested Memory follows Captain Lee (Ethan Juan), who has been struggling with minor bouts of memory loss. Despite this, he is still capable enough to lead cases, demonstrated by a fierce display of physical takedowns accompanied by the oddest choice in musical composition. However, when he is about ready to make an arrest at a meetup, brain fog overwhelms him, creating a serious delay in response that ultimately leads to tragedy for him and his team. 

Captain Lee’s deteriorating memory makes for a strong premise in Arrested Memory.

The portrayal of Lee’s brain fog is incredibly well executed. As someone who struggles with brain fog myself, it’s an isolating experience, one in which a cage shutters around your brain and holds you in place. The way sound is used (and, more importantly, taken away), paired with shaky, disorienting camerawork from cinematographer Jai Ip as Lee tries to make sense of his surroundings, perfectly captures what it feels like. Throw in the rapid increase in lost memories, and Lee essentially becomes a ticking time bomb.

Despite the tragedy Lee experiences in the beginning, he’s sent back out to work with a new team to pursue the kidnapping of a Japanese businessman’s (Shin’ichi Tsutsumi) son. The police force’s incompetence in these kidnapping-focused scenes produces some of the strongest comedic beats in Arrested Memory. From the manic junkie who puts the pieces together faster than the cops in the room to the pointed translation wryly delivered by Hsieh Ying-xuan as the businessman’s capable assistant, it’s with luck alone that this police force might be able to succeed in finding this exasperated man’s son.

Side characters introduced throughout this chaotic narrative become distracting when they return.

Unfortunately, despite the strong premise of a police captain rapidly losing his memory, SABU takes direct inspiration from the disjointed nature of his protagonist’s consciousness and applies it to the narrative. Not helping matters is the weaving in and out of side characters, with not enough time spent to fully solidify them into something with weight in Lee’s orbit. This is especially true of Moon Lee‘s character, whose inclusion highlights Lee’s kind nature, but her later involvement feels too contrived in its convenience. In fact, it detracts.

Ethan Juan’s performance as Lee keeps everything from going fully off the rails in Arrested Memory. Juan’s eyes convey the periods of lucidity Lee experiences. Just as quickly, though, it shifts and disappears; his eyes taking on a more empty state. As his memories disappear further and further, Juan imbues Lee with an almost childlike sensibility, creating a stark contrast when up against more nefarious powers.

As a dark comedy, Arrested Memory is far more successful.

Sadly, when the violence does hit, it isn’t delivered with the raw brutality that such scenes require in Arrested Memory. The climactic fight towards the end of the film, in particular, suffers from pulling its punches, with the choreography and the visual framing of these moments feeling unnaturally forced. Even through edits, the action never reaches levels of immersion needed to keep things engaging, and instead, we’re forced to watch the meticulous placement of takedowns before reaching the final boss.

Were the genres better married together in what is otherwise a fun watch, the disjointed unevenness that stretches too far beyond the realms of believability might have sorted itself out. As a dark comedy and an exploration into a man’s declining mind, Arrested Memory is far more successful than the action procedural it aims to be.

Arrested Memory played as a part of the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.