See this topic from yesterday for discussion of Asian horror movies, and the ones I like the most. Here are quick takes on 13 others I’ve seen. Especially if you have comments on movies not listed yesterday (Oct. 8) or here, please post about them and tell us what we’re missing out on.
The “Three Extremes” DVD includes the full feature version of “Dumplings.” Watch that movie first instead of the shorter version in “Three Extremes”; it’s got a better ending.
I liked “Suicide Club” and “Dark Water,” but can’t strongly recommend them.
“Phone” has problems, but it’s watchable, even if the climax could have been shot a lot scarier. Little Seo-woo Eun can be darned spooky.
I liked the twist “Reincarnation” took, but post-twist the movie should have been cut by a third.
“Premonition” and “One Missed Call” are worth watching, even if the latter has “Ringu’s” fingerprints all over it. (I want that ringtone!) Stay away, far away, from the “One Missed Call” American ruinmake.
Horror movie math: “One Missed Call 2” equals “One Missed Call” plus “Ringu” plus “Ju-on: The Grudge” and what the heck, let’s toss in a little “Dark Water,” “The Eye” and “Audition.” Which means you could save yourself a lot of time by watching “One Missed Call 2,” like a Reader’s Digest condensation, but I advise against it.
“Kairo,” aka “Pulse,” didn’t excite me too much, but it’s certainly superior to its American version, “Pulse.” I found “Cure” too slow and heavy on the psychobabble, but it is good and well-acted.
“Save the Green Planet!” is horror, black comedy and sci-fi, and manages to swirl the three together without making a mess of it.
“Re-cycle” is engaging and trippy, but watch out for the ham-handed social statement. You’ll know it when you see it.
“Wishing Stairs” is best, I think, for teenage girls, especially if they’re into ballet.
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