Shutter


Dir: Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom
Star: Ananda Everingham, Natthaweeranuch Thongmee, Acita Sikamana

The rights here have already been sold for a US remake. "What will they call it?" snorted Chris. "I Know What You Did with my Ring Last Summer (and still bear a Grudge)?" Yes, folks: lock 'n' load. Welcome to this edition of Mystery Sarcasm Theater 3000, as we review (sigh) another Eastern offering about a pissed-off, long-haired ghost girl. And then, as we raised our boots, and prepared to give this one the good kicking its utter lack of originality deserved, something strange happened. We found we were actually enjoying it. Sure, it has all the unpredictability of a Big Mac, but I have to confess, even as we ticked off scares, almost to the second, we did so with a grin. For the film does the little things well enough, to make you overlook its obvious flaws.

Tun (Everingham) is a photographer; as he and fiancee Jane (Thongmee) drive home one night, they mow down a young woman. Though they flee the scene, Tun's pics start to show a ghostly presence. From there, things develop - hohoho! - more or less as you'd expect, as they try to appease the vengeful spirit, before she makes everyone they know, kill themselves. Stop me if you've heard that one before. And if you haven't, how was Mars? The dark-haired ghost girl is perhaps the 21st-century version of the "maniac with a hook" story; while everyone knows it, when executed correctly, as here, it still has inherent creepy potential, and there are enough effective moments to make this work. Take the scene where our couple are hanging out, when Tun gets a phone-call which flips things 180 degrees; or when he visits one friend, just in time to see him drop off the balcony. As long as you're not expecting innovation, this will do perfectly fine.

[The DVD is released through Tartan Video USA on March 27th, including "making of" footage and interview with the cast and crew. For more information, visit the Tartan Video website]

B-
March 2007


Someday, my prints will come.
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