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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Do you want to hear a ghost story from overseas?, , 26 Oct 2007
I haven't watched much Asian horror but I think I know a good one when I see one. This film should not to be overlooked! While it borrows a bit from the Ringu cycle, the film makers have added enough originality to make the film stand on its own. It is all done with a great deal of talent and packs quite a horrific blow! I had the pleasure of viewing this film the other night and was surprised by all of the clever editing tricks employed by the filmmakers. Some of this editing is so sneaky it happens before your eyes can catch it!
After a night out drinking with his fellow graduate friends, photography student Tun (Ananda Everingham) and his girlfriend Jane (Nattaweeranuch Thongmee) accidentally run down a girl who's standing in the middle of the road. After panicking and leaving without stopping to help, Jane begins to have nightmares and Tun finds ghost-like images in the backgrounds of his photos. When his friends start apparently committing suicide, Tun and Jane's investigations lead to more possible incidents of guilt concerning another student, Natre (Achita Sikamana). They may only be in their mid-twenties and this their debut film, but "Shutter's" Thai co-directors Parkpoom Wongpoom and Banjong Pisanthanakun have a fantastic feel for what makes an atmospheric, tension filled ghost story.
One of the remarkable things about this movie is the cast especially Everingham. Besides being easy on the eyes he has shown several different sides to his character as the story moves in unexpected directions. As beautiful as Jane is, she has the most straightforward and possibly the only completely sympathetic character but she does really well to make Jane far more interesting than the usual screaming girlfriend. Sikamana is good as the quiet reclusive student and then downright terrifying as the vengeful ghost. Even though the ghost is still a woman with messy hair, at least she doesn't stand at the end of halls trying to trick you into thinking she is scary. She actually moves and does things, a winning combo in ghost movies... and the bedroom. The scary moments are so effective. The "pick a boo" scene are really scary cause it actually made me jump and I don't do that. Another thing that "Shutter" has going for it is director Banjong Pisanthanakun cause he got skills compare to the other directors in this territory. I thoroughly enjoyed the look of this movie and the ending was amazing.
"Shutter" will stick in your mind along with your time because it truly deals with a justified passionate revenge from the grave. I can feel the fear again, will you?
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Ring, The Grudge Etc, 23 May 2008
This film does not break any new ground but has a good story and the ending is satisfying. If you like The Ring, The Grudge etc then you will enjoy this.
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3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific!, 1 Jul 2008
I enjoyed this one very much. The plot has been already well explained by others so no need to go over it again here. (If I had to say anything about it, I'd say it's a story of obsessive love from beyond the grave). The ghost lady seemed to have been borrowed from Ju-On, (The Grudge) at times, though admittedly not as effective as that one, but the whole movie was very interesting and absorbing to follow and very well done indeed. I didn't get bored at all and loved every minute of it. No annoying laughs and attempts at humour, just a very dark story, and creepy atmosphere. There was a song featured in it, when the couple were driving along in their car, heard then only briefly, and then the whole song played out over the end credits, and featured on the dvd for the photo gallery section, and I wanted to listen to it over and over again. It did say in the credits what the song was called and who by, but as I didn't write it down and it was in a language I'm not familiar with, I can't say what it was called or who by, but it was credited with the date 1965 so maybe was a wellknown release round about that time in that part of the world. Whatever, it was a lovely song and I'd love to get a recording of it if it's available. It seemed really creepy in relation to the movie, and it was so nice to hear a theme song that shows the makers of the movie seem to have used some imagination in deciding what to use, whereas so often the music used in a movie is a bit of a disappointment. So full marks for that too. Very satisfying indeed.
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