list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Ringu on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Ringu/134732/default.aspx Title: Ringu
Year: 1998
Director: Hideo Nakata
Plot: In this psychological horror story from Japan, a legend circulates among teenagers that if one watches a certain video at a certain time of the night, the telephone will ring right afterward, and one week later, you will die. When Masami (Hitomi Sato) tells her friend Imako this story, she scoffs -- but a week later, Imako dies in an auto accident. Imako's aunt, a television journalist named Reiko (Nanako Matsushima), hears that not long before she died, Imako was watching a strange video with her friends -- all of whom have turned up dead. Reiko tracks down a copy of the video, and as she watches its strange, spectral images, the telephone begins to ring....The next morning, Reiko begins a desperate search to solve the mystery of the video, convinced she has only seven days to live; assisting her is Ryuji (Hiroyuki Sanada), a mathematics expert and her former husband. Ringu was a box-office success in its native Japan, and a surprise blockbuster in Hong Kong, where it became the biggest grossing film of the first half of 1999. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 16
Number of Lists: 28
Number of blog posts: 7
Number of discussion threads: 11
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:13:40 GMTRingu1998Hideo NakataIn this psychological horror story from Japan, a legend circulates among teenagers that if one watches a certain video at a certain time of the night, the telephone will ring right afterward, and one week later, you will die. When Masami (Hitomi Sato) tells her friend Imako this story, she scoffs -- but a week later, Imako dies in an auto accident. Imako's aunt, a television journalist named Reiko (Nanako Matsushima), hears that not long before she died, Imako was watching a strange video with her friends -- all of whom have turned up dead. Reiko tracks down a copy of the video, and as she watches its strange, spectral images, the telephone begins to ring....The next morning, Reiko begins a desperate search to solve the mystery of the video, convinced she has only seven days to live; assisting her is Ryuji (Hiroyuki Sanada), a mathematics expert and her former husband. Ringu was a box-office success in its native Japan, and a surprise blockbuster in Hong Kong, where it became the biggest grossing film of the first half of 1999. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide16Tag Target (>10)287113http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t27359r82ij.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Ringu/134732/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_July_20_Television/625/43196/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mciocco
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 7/20/2009 1:13:40 PM
Body: A few come to mind: Network - At the time, Paddy Chayefsky tried to imagine the most ridiculous and absurd things that could happen on TV news... Frighteningly, it doesn't seem as ridiculous or absurd these days. Groundhog Day - TV weatherman caught in a space/time loop. Great movie. The Truman Show - Jim Carrey in a semi-serious role? Decent movie, though I'm not sure it's aged that well... The Insider - Or, how everyone lost faith in 60 Minutes. Anchorman - I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany. And some horror TV films: Poltergeist, Ringu, and Videodrome
]]>Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:13:40 GMTmcioccoWeekly Theme7/20/2009 1:13:40 PMA few come to mind: Network - At the time, Paddy Chayefsky tried to imagine the most ridiculous and absurd things that could happen on TV news... Frighteningly, it doesn't seem as ridiculous or absurd these days. Groundhog Day - TV weatherman caught in a space/time loop. Great movie. The Truman Show - Jim Carrey in a semi-serious role? Decent movie, though I'm not sure it's aged that well... The Insider - Or, how everyone lost faith in 60 Minutes. Anchorman - I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany. And some horror TV films: Poltergeist, Ringu, and Videodrome http://www.spout.com/groups/HORROR_MOVIES_101/Re_The_Uninvited_A_Tale_of_Two_Sisters/222/39952/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: seely
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 1/27/2009 10:03:57 AM
Body: Good to know you liked the original... hopefully the American version lives up to the Japanese (though it rarely does). I am hopeful though since The Ring, although not as good as Ringu, was still pretty darn good IMHO. [quote user="divinemsjunebug"] Thanks Seely, I had heard it was a remake of a J-Horror movie, but I wasn't sure which one from watching the previews. I really liked the Japenese version of a Tale of Two Sisters. Although it was pretty sad at times but I did like the ending. I had not heard anything about it yet but it does look pretty good. I will probably wait until it comes out on DVD. If anyone sees it please let me know if it is worth going to the Theater or to just wait to see it. [quote user="seely"] Just saw that The Uninvited is coming out soon. I guess this is another adaptation by the people who brought Ringu over as The Ring, so I am a bit curious to see this as I still have PRTSS (post Ring traumatic stress syndrome). It was originally based on the hit Japanese film A Tale of Two Sisters (and was to be released in the US under the same title, but was changed last minute). The preview really looks genuinely creepy, and coming from a Japanese film I'm pretty sure it won't disappoint, given the Japanese track record for ultra-creepy movies. Has anyone heard anything about this one? [/quote] [/quote]
]]>Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:03:57 GMTseelyHORROR MOVIES 1011/27/2009 10:03:57 AMGood to know you liked the original... hopefully the American version lives up to the Japanese (though it rarely does). I am hopeful though since The Ring, although not as good as Ringu, was still pretty darn good IMHO. [quote user="divinemsjunebug"] Thanks Seely, I had heard it was a remake of a J-Horror movie, but I wasn't sure which one from watching the previews. I really liked the Japenese version of a Tale of Two Sisters. Although it was pretty sad at times but I did like the ending. I had not heard anything about it yet but it does look pretty good. I will probably wait until it comes out on DVD. If anyone sees it please let me know if it is worth going to the Theater or to just wait to see it. [quote user="seely"] Just saw that The Uninvited is coming out soon. I guess this is another adaptation by the people who brought Ringu over as The Ring, so I am a bit curious to see this as I still have PRTSS (post Ring traumatic stress syndrome). It was originally based on the hit Japanese film A Tale of Two Sisters (and was to be released in the US under the same title, but was changed last minute). The preview really looks genuinely creepy, and coming from a Japanese film I'm pretty sure it won't disappoint, given the Japanese track record for ultra-creepy movies. Has anyone heard anything about this one? [/quote] [/quote] http://www.spout.com/groups/HORROR_MOVIES_101/Re_The_Uninvited_A_Tale_of_Two_Sisters/222/39935/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: divinemsjunebug
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 1/26/2009 7:06:35 PM
Body: Thanks Seely, I had heard it was a remake of a J-Horror movie, but I wasn't sure which one from watching the previews. I really liked the Japenese version of a Tale of Two Sisters. Although it was pretty sad at times but I did like the ending. I had not heard anything about it yet but it does look pretty good. I will probably wait until it comes out on DVD. If anyone sees it please let me know if it is worth going to the Theater or to just wait to see it. [quote user="seely"] Just saw that The Uninvited is coming out soon. I guess this is another adaptation by the people who brought Ringu over as The Ring, so I am a bit curious to see this as I still have PRTSS (post Ring traumatic stress syndrome). It was originally based on the hit Japanese film A Tale of Two Sisters (and was to be released in the US under the same title, but was changed last minute). The preview really looks genuinely creepy, and coming from a Japanese film I'm pretty sure it won't disappoint, given the Japanese track record for ultra-creepy movies. Has anyone heard anything about this one? [/quote]
]]>Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:06:35 GMTdivinemsjunebugHORROR MOVIES 1011/26/2009 7:06:35 PMThanks Seely, I had heard it was a remake of a J-Horror movie, but I wasn't sure which one from watching the previews. I really liked the Japenese version of a Tale of Two Sisters. Although it was pretty sad at times but I did like the ending. I had not heard anything about it yet but it does look pretty good. I will probably wait until it comes out on DVD. If anyone sees it please let me know if it is worth going to the Theater or to just wait to see it. [quote user="seely"] Just saw that The Uninvited is coming out soon. I guess this is another adaptation by the people who brought Ringu over as The Ring, so I am a bit curious to see this as I still have PRTSS (post Ring traumatic stress syndrome). It was originally based on the hit Japanese film A Tale of Two Sisters (and was to be released in the US under the same title, but was changed last minute). The preview really looks genuinely creepy, and coming from a Japanese film I'm pretty sure it won't disappoint, given the Japanese track record for ultra-creepy movies. Has anyone heard anything about this one? [/quote] http://www.spout.com/groups/HORROR_MOVIES_101/The_Uninvited_A_Tale_of_Two_Sisters/222/39907/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: seely
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 1/26/2009 10:59:48 AM
Body: Just saw that The Uninvited is coming out soon. I guess this is another adaptation by the people who brought Ringu over as The Ring, so I am a bit curious to see this as I still have PRTSS (post Ring traumatic stress syndrome). It was originally based on the hit Japanese Korean film A Tale of Two Sisters (and was to be released in the US under the same title, but was changed last minute). The preview really looks genuinely creepy, and coming from a Japanese Korean film I'm pretty sure it won't disappoint, given the Japanese Korean track record for ultra-creepy movies. Has anyone heard anything about this one?
]]>Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:59:48 GMTseelyHORROR MOVIES 1011/26/2009 10:59:48 AMJust saw that The Uninvited is coming out soon. I guess this is another adaptation by the people who brought Ringu over as The Ring, so I am a bit curious to see this as I still have PRTSS (post Ring traumatic stress syndrome). It was originally based on the hit Japanese Korean film A Tale of Two Sisters (and was to be released in the US under the same title, but was changed last minute). The preview really looks genuinely creepy, and coming from a Japanese Korean film I'm pretty sure it won't disappoint, given the Japanese Korean track record for ultra-creepy movies. Has anyone heard anything about this one? http://www.spout.com/groups/HORROR_MOVIES_101/Re_Top_25_Horror_Films_of_the_Modern_Era/222/39023/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Macabre_FilmNut
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 1/1/2009 7:09:43 PM
Body: [quote user="rjsprague"] Yeah I've never been a huge fan of horror, so I figured I'd get some of you lovers of horror to contribute your thoughts on this list. I'd love to see a you guys make your own and post a link here or something. =) [/quote] I myself read alot of blogs. Heavy into horror, especially overseas stuff. But I watch everything. Lately surrealism and experimental, not sure why? I saw that list and for the most part its great , it tried to cover everytjing. But there is really no J-horor, such as SHIBUYA KAIDAN 1 & 2 a.k.a The Locker. Happy to see À l'intérieur (2007) and Let the Right One In (2008). But no mention of Ils a.k.a Them.. I am not sure why they are mentioning remakes, even though it maybe good. Such as the Ring in the states and the original Ringu.(1998). Like someone said above Eyes wide shut wasn't a horror. I rather see some more Takashi Miike or even Fabrice Du Welz,Calvaire (2004). If it was me I wouldnt of put Cemetery Man (1994). I understand it has a cult following, so doesnt Álex de la Iglesia films.Michele Soavi was the protege of Dario Argento. I rather much seen his first film Deliria a.k.a Stage Fright (1987) or even La, Chiesa a.k.a The church, which actually I think it was Asia Argento first film. Well now I am curious to see what everyone else has to say. .
]]>Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:09:43 GMTMacabre_FilmNutHORROR MOVIES 1011/1/2009 7:09:43 PM[quote user="rjsprague"] Yeah I've never been a huge fan of horror, so I figured I'd get some of you lovers of horror to contribute your thoughts on this list. I'd love to see a you guys make your own and post a link here or something. =) [/quote] I myself read alot of blogs. Heavy into horror, especially overseas stuff. But I watch everything. Lately surrealism and experimental, not sure why? I saw that list and for the most part its great , it tried to cover everytjing. But there is really no J-horor, such as SHIBUYA KAIDAN 1 & 2 a.k.a The Locker. Happy to see À l'intérieur (2007) and Let the Right One In (2008). But no mention of Ils a.k.a Them.. I am not sure why they are mentioning remakes, even though it maybe good. Such as the Ring in the states and the original Ringu.(1998). Like someone said above Eyes wide shut wasn't a horror. I rather see some more Takashi Miike or even Fabrice Du Welz,Calvaire (2004). If it was me I wouldnt of put Cemetery Man (1994). I understand it has a cult following, so doesnt Álex de la Iglesia films.Michele Soavi was the protege of Dario Argento. I rather much seen his first film Deliria a.k.a Stage Fright (1987) or even La, Chiesa a.k.a The church, which actually I think it was Asia Argento first film. Well now I am curious to see what everyone else has to say. . http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Depressing_holidays_dysfunctional_families_fo/190/37175/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 11/10/2008 10:32:44 PM
Body: Most Accessible Foreign Language Films of the Last 10 Years: 1.) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2.) Kung-Fu Hustle 3.) Y Tu Mama Tambien 4.) Pan's Labyrinth 5.) Ringu 6.) Talk to Her 7.) The Spanish Apartment 8.) The Motorcycle Diaries 9.) CIty of God 10.) Amorres Perros
]]>Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:32:44 GMTmercurialTop 511/10/2008 10:32:44 PMMost Accessible Foreign Language Films of the Last 10 Years: 1.) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2.) Kung-Fu Hustle 3.) Y Tu Mama Tambien 4.) Pan's Labyrinth 5.) Ringu 6.) Talk to Her 7.) The Spanish Apartment 8.) The Motorcycle Diaries 9.) CIty of God 10.) Amorres Perros http://www.spout.com/blogs/unclefestering/archive/2008/6/17/31305.aspx Post By: unclefestering
Post To: unclefestering Blog
Post Date: 6/17/2008 1:08:02 AM
Body: Tetsuo is a strange movie. The plot, what little there is, is simple. But the imagery is fantastic. This movie is a disjointed surrealistic, industrial nightmare. Or it is what Trent Reznor sees every time he closes his eyes. It is hard to describe the plot without making this movie sound stupid. A metal fetishist (director Shinya Tsukamoto) runs into the street after shoving a steel cable into his leg. He is hit by an oncoming car. The driver of the car only called Salaryman (Tomorowo Taguchi) is seen the next morning shaving when his razor touches a small wire sticking out of his cheek. From that point on his flesh begins to be replaced by various machine parts. At first he tries to hide his condition, but quick just starts to fight the transformation and his own desires. At one point he finds a woman and attempts to have sex with her, only to discover an important part of himself has been replaced by a drill bit. The metal fetishist returns from the dead also as a part machine monster and battles with the Salaryman until the two eventually merged into one creature. Now, from that description the plot sounds simple. But it is presented in a mix of flashback, stop motion images and sped up action that you absorb most of the images and sounds while your brain slowly pieces together what is going on. All this to a heavy industrial beat. The plot itself isn’t as important as the visual ideas this movie presents. And for the record, they are presented briskly at just over 67 minutes. The movie is violent and frightening, but oh so compelling to watch. Tsukamoto manages to achieve some amazing effects and images with a startling low budget. As I mention above, this movie is clearly an influence on the alternate industrial music of the 1990s. You can see where Nine Inch Nails steals both little and big from this movie. It is also a clear influence on the Japanese horror genre. You cannot watch any version of Ringu (or the American poor man’s remake, The Ring) without seeing where this movie has had a clear impact. What is the final message of the movie? That we have lost all connection to the natural world around us? That we have become completely absorbed by the consumerist culture around us? That we are all cogs in the machine with even our most basic urges turned against us? That you shouldn’t have sex above the slowly dying body of your hit and run victim? This movie is about all that and more.
]]>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:08:02 GMTunclefesteringunclefestering Blog6/17/2008 1:08:02 AM Tetsuo is a strange movie. The plot, what little there is, is simple. But the imagery is fantastic. This movie is a disjointed surrealistic, industrial nightmare. Or it is what Trent Reznor sees every time he closes his eyes. It is hard to describe the plot without making this movie sound stupid. A metal fetishist (director Shinya Tsukamoto) runs into the street after shoving a steel cable into his leg. He is hit by an oncoming car. The driver of the car only called Salaryman (Tomorowo Taguchi) is seen the next morning shaving when his razor touches a small wire sticking out of his cheek. From that point on his flesh begins to be replaced by various machine parts. At first he tries to hide his condition, but quick just starts to fight the transformation and his own desires. At one point he finds a woman and attempts to have sex with her, only to discover an important part of himself has been replaced by a drill bit. The metal fetishist returns from the dead also as a part machine monster and battles with the Salaryman until the two eventually merged into one creature. Now, from that description the plot sounds simple. But it is presented in a mix of flashback, stop motion images and sped up action that you absorb most of the images and sounds while your brain slowly pieces together what is going on. All this to a heavy industrial beat. The plot itself isn’t as important as the visual ideas this movie presents. And for the record, they are presented briskly at just over 67 minutes. The movie is violent and frightening, but oh so compelling to watch. Tsukamoto manages to achieve some amazing effects and images with a startling low budget. As I mention above, this movie is clearly an influence on the alternate industrial music of the 1990s. You can see where Nine Inch Nails steals both little and big from this movie. It is also a clear influence on the Japanese horror genre. You cannot watch any version of Ringu (or the American poor man’s remake, The Ring) without seeing where this movie has had a clear impact. What is the final message of the movie? That we have lost all connection to the natural world around us? That we have become completely absorbed by the consumerist culture around us? That we are all cogs in the machine with even our most basic urges turned against us? That you shouldn’t have sex above the slowly dying body of your hit and run victim? This movie is about all that and more. http://www.spout.com/groups/HORROR_MOVIES_101/Re_Tis_the_season/222/21184/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 10/25/2007 2:20:16 PM
Body: Well Doctor, I'm fairly sure I haven't seen even 10% of the horror movies you have, but I will make a list anyhow.I know we have had many discussion in the past about what constitutes a horror movie. But for purposes of this list, I will try to limit myself to more strictly defined horror. In other words, I will only include movies that I think there would be a decent chance that you could find them in the "horror" section of your video rental store. It's still hard to differentiate though because some movies might be more thriller than horror, or more sci-fi than horror, or more action than horror, or more comedy than horror.1. The Shining2. Ravenous3. Cube4. The Thing (1982)5. Night of the Living Dead 6. Psycho7. Alien8. American Psycho9. The Blair Witch Project10. Sleepy Hollow11. Jaws12. From Dusk Till Dawn13. Funny Games14. Ringu15. Jurassic Park Here are some more that I think are pretty close to horror that I love but might be more thrillers.The Vanishing (Spoorloos)Cabinet of Dr. CaligariThe Night of the HunterCape Fear (the original)Duel
]]>Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:20:16 GMTRisseladaHORROR MOVIES 10110/25/2007 2:20:16 PMWell Doctor, I'm fairly sure I haven't seen even 10% of the horror movies you have, but I will make a list anyhow.I know we have had many discussion in the past about what constitutes a horror movie. But for purposes of this list, I will try to limit myself to more strictly defined horror. In other words, I will only include movies that I think there would be a decent chance that you could find them in the "horror" section of your video rental store. It's still hard to differentiate though because some movies might be more thriller than horror, or more sci-fi than horror, or more action than horror, or more comedy than horror.1. The Shining2. Ravenous3. Cube4. The Thing (1982)5. Night of the Living Dead 6. Psycho7. Alien8. American Psycho9. The Blair Witch Project10. Sleepy Hollow11. Jaws12. From Dusk Till Dawn13. Funny Games14. Ringu15. Jurassic Park Here are some more that I think are pretty close to horror that I love but might be more thrillers.The Vanishing (Spoorloos)Cabinet of Dr. CaligariThe Night of the HunterCape Fear (the original)Duel http://www.spout.com/groups/HORROR_MOVIES_101/_Tis_the_season/222/21160/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Dr_Gor
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 10/24/2007 8:44:45 PM
Body: Yes, boys and ghouls, it's that magical time of the year again, when ghosts and goblins and monsters and madmen roam the earth in search of 'sweets'! That's right! It's Thanksgiving! ... Oops! My bad! I had my calender on the wrong page! To make a long story short, I just purchased a 'restored/remastered' DVD of Halloween and I watched this movie again for about the 30th time and IT JUST DOESN'T GET OLD! There is a story behind this one, but basically, there are actually some movies that I don't mind seeing over and over again! What a phenomena ! Anyhow, AOL has compiled (yet another) list of the all time best Horror Movies! You can check it out here... Best Horror Movies of All Time: 31 Days of Horror - Moviefone. If I were to have to pick my Top Ten all-time favorite Horror Movies, I think that list would change... day to day... depending a lot upon my mood... At THIS moment in my life, my top-ten list would look something like this... 1. The Exorcist ; STILL THE SCARIEST MOVIE EVER MADE!!! 2. Night Of The Living Dead ; A masterpiece! Who could NOT resist the charms of THIS classic! 3. Dawn Of The Dead 4. Zombie 5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 6. Psycho 7. Day Of The Dead 8. Return Of The Living Dead 9. Friday The 13th: part II 10. A Nightmare On Elm Street ... ... Freddy fucking rules! Anyhow, those are my thoughts. What are yours?
]]>Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:44:45 GMTDr_GorHORROR MOVIES 10110/24/2007 8:44:45 PM Yes, boys and ghouls, it's that magical time of the year again, when ghosts and goblins and monsters and madmen roam the earth in search of 'sweets'! That's right! It's Thanksgiving! ... Oops! My bad! I had my calender on the wrong page! To make a long story short, I just purchased a 'restored/remastered' DVD of Halloween and I watched this movie again for about the 30th time and IT JUST DOESN'T GET OLD! There is a story behind this one, but basically, there are actually some movies that I don't mind seeing over and over again! What a phenomena ! Anyhow, AOL has compiled (yet another) list of the all time best Horror Movies! You can check it out here... Best Horror Movies of All Time: 31 Days of Horror - Moviefone. If I were to have to pick my Top Ten all-time favorite Horror Movies, I think that list would change... day to day... depending a lot upon my mood... At THIS moment in my life, my top-ten list would look something like this... 1. The Exorcist ; STILL THE SCARIEST MOVIE EVER MADE!!! 2. Night Of The Living Dead ; A masterpiece! Who could NOT resist the charms of THIS classic! 3. Dawn Of The Dead 4. Zombie 5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 6. Psycho 7. Day Of The Dead 8. Return Of The Living Dead 9. Friday The 13th: part II 10. A Nightmare On Elm Street ... ... Freddy fucking rules! Anyhow, those are my thoughts. What are yours? http://www.spout.com/blogs/theworkingdead/archive/2007/9/1/19208.aspx Post By: TheWorkingDead
Post To: TheWorkingDead Blog
Post Date: 9/1/2007 12:07:00 AM
Body: It may be fading now, but Asian horror films, predominantly Japanese horror films, have had a pretty good representation on American shores of late. Prior to the turn of the century, American audiences usually thought of Godzilla-style rubber monsters when thinking of Japanese horror cinema, and most never even thought of Chinese or Korean cinema at all. That all changed in 1998, when word started to get back to adventurous horror fans of what was being touted as a completely original and utterly frightening film from Japan called Ringu. In 2002 the sub-genre burst into the mainstream consciousness when Ringu got a first class Hollywood remake courtesy of director Gore Verbinski. Say what you will about remakes in general, and I don't mean any disrespect to the original, but the American remake was a perfect translation, a great way to take the horror sensibilities from Japan and inject them into American cinema. It was familiar enough to not be offputting, but different enough to scare the bejesus out of unsuspecting audiences used to the current lackluster Hollywood offerings. The success of The Ring meant that more would be coming, and we soon got American remakes of top Asian horror films such as Ju On(AKA the Grudge) and Dark Water. At the same time, for those purists interested in originals only, and those simply looking for more scares, the home video market was bursting with Asian imports.The halfassed remakes that made it to theatres, the knock off films that followed the popularity of The Ring, and the overwhelming similarities between many Asian horror films, all led to the decline of the Asian horror boom. But waning popularity in America does not mean the market is entirely gone, and horror films remain a prominent export from eastern shores. One of those films testifying to the continuing J-Horror trend is One Missed Call 2, the sequel to the 2003 film from wildly divisive director Miike Takashi. And really, your enjoyment of this film is going to depend on your tolerance for logic-defying bullshit twist endings and halfassed philosophizing.The problem with the original One Missed Call was that it came to the game a bit late. By the time it was released there had already been 5 years of horror films dealing with haunted technology and creepy long haired women. It was Miike's most generic and standard film, but he still managed to inject it with flashes of his own gonzo sensibilities(there's a scene of a ghostly murder captured live in a television studio that had my jaw in my lap). Made without Miike's involvement, One Missed Call 2 is no less well made, but has virtually no trace of the style which attempted to make the original stand out.Most of the problem in this film comes from what plagued the original; a sense of 'been there, done that', with every stereotype from Asian horror cinema making an appearance, like a J-Horror best-of. There's the pale woman with long hair covering most of her face, slithering jerkily out of a well(the Ring) or sliding headfirst after her victim down a flight of stairs(Ju On), the creepy pale child(Ring, Ju On, Dark Water, Every Japanese Horror Movie Since 1998), and a general fear of technology that seems specific to Asia. Not that other countries don't have their own fears of technology, but it seems to manifest itself in a very specific way in Japanese cinema. In Buddhism, hate, anger, sadness and negativity aren't just emotions, they are physical ailments that can be passed on like a virus(think of Princess Mononoke where the hero has an ever growing wound from the mere touch of an angry boar-god), and as technology increases humanity's networking capabilities, it also increases our susceptibility to these curses. It's how we got the haunted video tape in Ringu, the haunted Internet in the excellent(and underseen) Pulse, and here the haunted cell phone in One Missed Call.The basic premise is that you get a phone call, which on your caller ID is listed as you, three days in the future. On this call you hear your own death, and three days later you die. More so than Ringu, this setup has a built in fatalism, a sense of hopelessness against your own doom, that the first one was wise enough to capitalize on. The sequel, however, changes the rules a bit, and it no longer seems as dangerous to get that call, with it's creepy music-box ringtone. The virus, to continue a metaphor, has mutated, which explains how it's continued on from the first movie. The phone call no longer kills only it's intended victim, but anyone who happens to answer/hear the message, and getting the call no longer means certain death. A disregard for it's own internal logic is another mark against this film. Without this inevitability, the film loses most of the tension inherent in the series, and must depend on carefully crafted scare scenes to spook the audience. And it does have those. Unfortunately the film never can escape the fact that everything we're seeing has been done before, many many times. One Missed Call 2 is slicker, more appealingly made than most of this sort of stuff out there, but it still falls short of the films it apes. However, enough time has passed between this film and it's predecessors that these stereotypes gave me a slight shiver of nostalgic horror, and they unfold in a way that I can admire and enjoy without actually being moved by them. All of this is ruined, however, by a twist ending that confused and angered me to such a degree that it almost rivals the ending to Mindhunters in sheer frustration(see my review of THAT film by clicking the title). I won't reveal it all here, for those of you interested in watching this series, but it will suffice to say that I no longer know who lives and who dies, who the killer is, or even if there was a killer. This may all lead up to the third movie(already released), but my suspicion is that the filmmakers thought they were totally blowing the audiences minds, not just confusing them into apathy.I tried for awhile to think of what to rate this film, and whether or not to tell people I liked it, because to say I hated it would be untrue, nor was I bored by it; the film kept me interested once it got going. But then, I wouldn't say I liked it either, or that I'm neutral about it, because I have some very strong opinions about it. It's an odd film that straddles all of those categories. In the end, though, I honestly can't recommend it to anyone. Hardcore Asian horror fans may find some gems in there, but they'll also most likely be bored by all too familiar scenery. Beginners might enjoy it, but I'd really suggest they look elsewhere(perhaps to the predecessors I mentioned above) for their introduction to this subgenre.
]]>Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:07:00 GMTTheWorkingDeadTheWorkingDead Blog9/1/2007 12:07:00 AMIt may be fading now, but Asian horror films, predominantly Japanese horror films, have had a pretty good representation on American shores of late. Prior to the turn of the century, American audiences usually thought of Godzilla-style rubber monsters when thinking of Japanese horror cinema, and most never even thought of Chinese or Korean cinema at all. That all changed in 1998, when word started to get back to adventurous horror fans of what was being touted as a completely original and utterly frightening film from Japan called Ringu. In 2002 the sub-genre burst into the mainstream consciousness when Ringu got a first class Hollywood remake courtesy of director Gore Verbinski. Say what you will about remakes in general, and I don't mean any disrespect to the original, but the American remake was a perfect translation, a great way to take the horror sensibilities from Japan and inject them into American cinema. It was familiar enough to not be offputting, but different enough to scare the bejesus out of unsuspecting audiences used to the current lackluster Hollywood offerings. The success of The Ring meant that more would be coming, and we soon got American remakes of top Asian horror films such as Ju On(AKA the Grudge) and Dark Water. At the same time, for those purists interested in originals only, and those simply looking for more scares, the home video market was bursting with Asian imports.The halfassed remakes that made it to theatres, the knock off films that followed the popularity of The Ring, and the overwhelming similarities between many Asian horror films, all led to the decline of the Asian horror boom. But waning popularity in America does not mean the market is entirely gone, and horror films remain a prominent export from eastern shores. One of those films testifying to the continuing J-Horror trend is One Missed Call 2, the sequel to the 2003 film from wildly divisive director Miike Takashi. And really, your enjoyment of this film is going to depend on your tolerance for logic-defying bullshit twist endings and halfassed philosophizing.The problem with the original One Missed Call was that it came to the game a bit late. By the time it was released there had already been 5 years of horror films dealing with haunted technology and creepy long haired women. It was Miike's most generic and standard film, but he still managed to inject it with flashes of his own gonzo sensibilities(there's a scene of a ghostly murder captured live in a television studio that had my jaw in my lap). Made without Miike's involvement, One Missed Call 2 is no less well made, but has virtually no trace of the style which attempted to make the original stand out.Most of the problem in this film comes from what plagued the original; a sense of 'been there, done that', with every stereotype from Asian horror cinema making an appearance, like a J-Horror best-of. There's the pale woman with long hair covering most of her face, slithering jerkily out of a well(the Ring) or sliding headfirst after her victim down a flight of stairs(Ju On), the creepy pale child(Ring, Ju On, Dark Water, Every Japanese Horror Movie Since 1998), and a general fear of technology that seems specific to Asia. Not that other countries don't have their own fears of technology, but it seems to manifest itself in a very specific way in Japanese cinema. In Buddhism, hate, anger, sadness and negativity aren't just emotions, they are physical ailments that can be passed on like a virus(think of Princess Mononoke where the hero has an ever growing wound from the mere touch of an angry boar-god), and as technology increases humanity's networking capabilities, it also increases our susceptibility to these curses. It's how we got the haunted video tape in Ringu, the haunted Internet in the excellent(and underseen) Pulse, and here the haunted cell phone in One Missed Call.The basic premise is that you get a phone call, which on your caller ID is listed as you, three days in the future. On this call you hear your own death, and three days later you die. More so than Ringu, this setup has a built in fatalism, a sense of hopelessness against your own doom, that the first one was wise enough to capitalize on. The sequel, however, changes the rules a bit, and it no longer seems as dangerous to get that call, with it's creepy music-box ringtone. The virus, to continue a metaphor, has mutated, which explains how it's continued on from the first movie. The phone call no longer kills only it's intended victim, but anyone who happens to answer/hear the message, and getting the call no longer means certain death. A disregard for it's own internal logic is another mark against this film. Without this inevitability, the film loses most of the tension inherent in the series, and must depend on carefully crafted scare scenes to spook the audience. And it does have those. Unfortunately the film never can escape the fact that everything we're seeing has been done before, many many times. One Missed Call 2 is slicker, more appealingly made than most of this sort of stuff out there, but it still falls short of the films it apes. However, enough time has passed between this film and it's predecessors that these stereotypes gave me a slight shiver of nostalgic horror, and they unfold in a way that I can admire and enjoy without actually being moved by them. All of this is ruined, however, by a twist ending that confused and angered me to such a degree that it almost rivals the ending to Mindhunters in sheer frustration(see my review of THAT film by clicking the title). I won't reveal it all here, for those of you interested in watching this series, but it will suffice to say that I no longer know who lives and who dies, who the killer is, or even if there was a killer. This may all lead up to the third movie(already released), but my suspicion is that the filmmakers thought they were totally blowing the audiences minds, not just confusing them into apathy.I tried for awhile to think of what to rate this film, and whether or not to tell people I liked it, because to say I hated it would be untrue, nor was I bored by it; the film kept me interested once it got going. But then, I wouldn't say I liked it either, or that I'm neutral about it, because I have some very strong opinions about it. It's an odd film that straddles all of those categories. In the end, though, I honestly can't recommend it to anyone. Hardcore Asian horror fans may find some gems in there, but they'll also most likely be bored by all too familiar scenery. Beginners might enjoy it, but I'd really suggest they look elsewhere(perhaps to the predecessors I mentioned above) for their introduction to this subgenre. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/death/MemberTagFilms.aspxdeath
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