Ju-on (2002)

Rika Nashina, a volunteer social assistant, arrives at a home where she is assigned to visit an elderly woman. But she soon discovers that this is no ordinary house call. The home is haunted by the ghost of a woman called Kayako, and her young son Toshio, who were brutally murdered by Kayako's husband. Now it seems that nobody who comes in contact with the house is safe.

Ju-on is better known to North American audiences as The Grudge, which is the title of the 2004 American remake of the film. It serves up a good number of jumps and a seriously creepy over-all atmosphere. It is not a surprise that this film was amongst the many from Asia that have been snatched up and remade over the past ten years.

Despite being subtitled you can tell that not all of the acting is particularly stellar. Nor is there anything necessarily amazing about any of the make up or effects. It's the story itself, and the way it is played out, that makes the film successful. If you've seen The Grudge and liked it, it's well worth checking out the original likewise if you are a fan of ghost movies in general.

3.5 black cats out of 5
Contains frightening scenes, violence.

The Woman in Black (1989)

A spine-chilling ghost story

A young solicitor is sent to a creepy old mansion in a seaside town to settle the estate of a recluse old widow who has recently passed away. The local people are clearly reluctant to have anything to do with the menacing old home which lies on a plot of land accessible only when the tide is out because otherwise the road is submerged.

But the solicitor ignores their words of warning and proceeds to the house, driven by fear for his job. Once there he is haunted by mysterious sounds and events and by a ghostly woman in black.

Of course this title will be recognized by many due to the movie by the same name which was recently released by Hammer Films. In fact this adaptation was originally a TV film and both films are adaptations of the book by the same name which was written by Susan Hill in 1983. Horror fans who recently saw the new release might be interested to check out this earlier effort.

While short on special effects in comparison to the more recent adaptation, this version of The Woman in Black does manage to pull off creating a creepy atmosphere and enough suspense to keep the viewer interested. Acting, costume, and setting also help to make this an OK little film, especially as a made for TV production.

3.5 toy soldiers out of 5
Contains frightening scenes.

The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)

Some things cannot be explained.

The Campbell family moves to Connecticut in order to be closer to the hospital where their son, Matt, must regularly travel for cancer treatments. But they don't know that the charming old Victoria house they have taken up residence in was formerly a funeral parlour, and no ordinary one at that. In fact, it was the site of some unspeakable horrors. To make matters worse, the former owners son, Jonah, was a clairvoyant who communicated with the dead.

Matt begins to have frightening dreams and visions, but the family initially believes that they are the side effects of an experimental treatment that he is undergoing. However, as time passes, the visions become all to real and the spirits that haunt the house make themselves known to the family as a whole. They call on Reverend Popescu (Elias Koteas) for assistance in the hopes of exorcising the spirits from the house, and saving Matt's fragile life.

The tagline quite correctly states that "some things cannot be explained". I agree in full. For example, it is inexplicable that horror film promoters continue to peddle the ridiculous line that these movies are "based on a true story".

Was Jaw's "based on a true story"? Yes, sometimes people get bit by sharks. Was King Kong? Yes, some people went to a jungle and brought back an ape. Texas Chainsaw Massacre? Of course, Ed Gein killed people and wore their skins. Is this movie "based on a true story"? Sure, some people think they saw some ghosts. In actuality, Ray Garton, the author of the book on which the film is based, has distanced himself from the accuracy of the events portrayed therein.

The movie itself, however, isn't too bad. It's creepy, and it has a good number of jumps throughout. But it doesn't quite manage to sustain its suspense. Most of the scariest content is actually in the first half of the film because by the time you get to the second half you have already seen it all, there is no mystery left. It is also a dramatic film, with the family struggling with the difficulties associated with Matt's worsening cancer. This too is effective enough but, as with the horror level, only insofar as to make this a decent, but unmemorable film.

2.5 eyelids out of 5
Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of terror and disturbing images

Shutter (2008)

Revenge Never Dies!

Ben and Jane, a pair of American newly-weds, move to Japan in pursuit of a job opportunity with a fashion photography company. During their trip, while driving late at night on a dark road in a forested area, they collide with a young woman and lose control of their car. But when they wake up, there is no sign of the woman or her body.

They arrive in Tokyo and move into their new suite. Ben begins his photography job and reconnects with old friends while Jane tries to settle in to their new home. But strange, ghostly blurs begin to show up in Ben's photographs and Jane, then Ben, begin to have disturbing visions and dreams. Jane comes to the frightening conclusion that they are being haunted by the ghost of the woman they hit on the road and she begins to research "spirit photography" in hope of finding answers. But her investigation only leads her closer to the increasingly disturbing truth behind the tormented spirit that is stalking her and her new husband.

Shutter is a truly haunting ghost film which will be enjoyed by fans of modern Asian horror films. That's because it is actually a remake of a Thai film by the same name. Some of the most frightening stuff out there over the past couple decades has been flowing out of Asia, and then being snapped up and remade in the United States. I look forward to the original, because this film was a good one.

This is a movie that does well in terms of suspense, plot development, and tonnes of "jump" moments. It even has a great ending. Without saying too much, it is disturbing, and then satisfying. A ghost film turned revenge film, the villain gets what's deserved. The ghost, Megumi, is scary. Think The Ring, or The Grudge; two more examples of fantastic scare fests pilfered through U.S. cultural imperialism. The only problem with this film is that once it gets going, it feels like we are seeing Megumi constantly, every few minutes, until it becomes common place and the fright value starts to weaken a bit. Still, check this one out.

4 spirit photos out of 5
Rated PG-13 for terror, disturbing images, sexual content and language

Creepshow 3 (2006)

The Most Fun You'll Ever Have Being Scared!

Five more short stories, this time claiming to be "the most fun you'll ever have being scared". Let's take a look.

We begin with "Alice", the story of a spoiled teenager who hates her family, her neighborhood, and her life. She uses a universal remote control developed by a fellow by the name of Professor Dayton to change reality and learns that maybe things weren't so bad before after all... compared to the fate that now awaits her.

Next, in "The Radio", a security guard buys a radio which was also developed by Professor Dayton. The radio proceeds to talk to him and lure him into a web of theft and murder from which he cannot escape. Moving right along...

"The Call Girl" is about a sex worker/serial killer who murders whoever happens to hire her. Unfortunately for her, the jig is up when she is hired by an odd character by the name of Victor. She murders him, or tries to, but then learns that she isn't the only one who isn't what she seems. One of the better tales, but things are about to go downhill some more.

"The Professors Wife" takes us to the home of Professor Dayton, where the Professor has invited his two best former students over for dinner. He introduces them to his fiancée, who they decide is an android. Therefore they decide the most sensible thing to do is to disassemble her. Doesn't go well.

Finally, "The Haunted Dog". A hot dog vendor drops a hot dog on the ground. He gives it to a homeless dude. The homeless dude kicks it. Hot dog guy is then haunted by the ghost of the homeless dude that he murdered with his dirty wiener. Seriously.

Many have decried Creepshow 3 as an illegitimate sequel to the original anthology by Stephen King and George A. Romero. The reason for this is probably that Creepshow 3 sucks and nobody wants it to sully the name of the original and its relatively good sequel, Creepshow 2.

Creepshow 3 does not involve King or Romero, and frankly lacks the writing, casting, special effects, and humour that made the first two movies so cheesy, but still so watchable and enjoyable. This, on the other hand, is pretty bad all around. Poorly written, ridiculous stories based on ludicrous premises and totally lacking in humour. Some of the stories in this film do carry on the Creepshow tradition of bad things happening to bad people... but due to uninteresting characters and poor writing, it doesn't come out as strongly or convincingly. The same goes for the gore... there's a tonne of it... but it is ridiculous and campy at best. This film can be missed, you won't be missing much.

1 universal remote out of 5, because you only need one to turn off a movie
Rated R for bloody horror violence and gore, language, some drug use and sexual material.

Creepshow 2 (1987)

When The Curtain Goes Up, The Terror Begins!

Stephen King and George A. Romero return three more stories in the second installment of the Creepshow series.

"Chief Wooden Head" is the tale of an older couple who are the proprietors of a small, bankrupt shop in the desert. They remain open against the odds in a struggle to make a go of it and to provide for the needs of the local community. Their customers are primarily the local First Nations community and their store has a life-sized wooden statue by its front door - "Chief Wooden Head". But the shop falls victim to a group of petty criminals. The robbery goes bad and the thieves escape, but not for long. Guess who hunts them down to mete out tough justice...

In "The Raft" four young couples decide to go swimming at a lake far away from civilization. They swim out to a wooden raft in the water only to find that they are being hunted by a giant oily blob which aims to hunt down and consume them all one by one.

Lastly, "The Hitchhiker" is a nightmare scenario wherein a hit and run goes from bad to even worse. An adulteress business woman is rushing home after an extra-marital booty call when she accidentally hits and kills a hitchhiker. But the hitchhiker won't stay dead and wants revenge.

Creepshow 2 continues in the tradition of the original Creepshow film seamlessly and with all the cheese, laughs, and occasional spooks of the first movie. It continues on the strong underlying theme of "what goes around comes around", whereby bad people meet nasty ends. This sequel is darker than its predecessor and features more brutal, less cartoonish violence. Romero's participation in the writing process is noticeable in the films underlying social commentary as well.


4 wooden chiefs out of 5
Rated R: contains violence, frightening scenes, sexual content, nudity, language. 

The Ring (2002)

Before you die, you see the ring.

A journalist, Rachel Keller, investigates the suspicious death of her niece and her three friends. The lot of them died on the same day, at the same time and with looks of sheer terror on their faces.

Her investigation leads her to a cabin where the four victims has stayed a week before they met their mysterious ends. There she finds a video, which she proceeds to watch. Soon she realizes the video is cursed and all who watch it will die a week later. 

Now she is in a race against time to break the curse of Samara, the creepy little girl who made the video, or face horrifying death.

It was only a matter of time before I wrote a review of this movie. I can categorically say that this is the scariest movie I have ever seen. I've seen hundreds of horror movies and so far none of them compare. Of course, I haven't yet watched Ringu... the Japanese original on which this American remake is based. Maybe I'm in for a treat.

The movie is rated PG-13. This is because it contains basically no violence, sex nudity, or nasty language. Don't be fooled by the rating though... this movie will fuck you up way worse than any R-rated slasher flick. Plus its well acted and filmed with lots of creepy locales and scenes as well as a few plot twists to keep things interesting.

5 creepy girls in the TV out of 5
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, disturbing images, language and some drug references. 


Watch The Ring trailer.

The Others (2001)

Sooner Or Later They Will Find You.

World War Two is drawing to a close, and Grace takes up residence with her two young children in a mansion in Jersey. They are awaiting the return of Grace's husband, the childrens father, who has been off fighting in the war. The hired help up and takes off unannounced, so Grace puts out an ad for new servants.

The new servants arrive soon after and begin to take up the work of caring for the children, who are subject to an array of strange rules, partially as a result of a supposed health condition which they both share.

Strange events start to occur in the house. Grace believes she can hear voices and noises and begins to have frightening visions. Finally she begins to believe that the new servants are up to something. But the truth is soon revealed to be even worse.

The Others is as much a mystery and a thriller as it is a ghost movie or a horror film. It may keep you guessing for a while, depending on how many of these type of movies you have seen before. All in all it is a well done, well acted movie with a classic plot twist ending aimed at leaving you with the creeps. For a spooky Hollywood ghost story, not too bad.

3.5 surprise endings out of 5
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and frightening moments.

Watch The Others trailer. 

City of the Living Dead (1980)

And the dead shall rise and walk the earth!

A seance brings forth a traumatic vision of a priest hanging himself, and sends one of the participants into convulsions and presumed death. The victim, Mary, is buried the following day only to awaken and be saved from her entombed coffin in the nick of time by local journalist Peter Bell. But this is just where the strangeness begins. A series of gruesome apparitions and happenings, followed by vicious zombie attacks, lead to the demise of the towns residents one by one. The priests suicide has opened the gates of hell, and it seems that everyone is doomed.

City of the Living Dead is a great, although quite abstract, movie. It is very difficult to give a detailed summary of the films plot because it both starts and ends quite abruptly, with little explanation. It is largely composed of a series of horrifying events all seemingly unrelated, but all connected to the apocalyptic situation caused somehow by this priests death.

If you can get past the fact that the film comes off as quite abstract and artsy, it is really a cool movie. It mixes zombies with hauntings in a sort of zombie/ghost movie. It contains some extremely graphic scenes, most famously the scene in which a young woman's eyes begin to bleed, followed by her vomiting up her internal organs. Rumour has it that the organs were actually animal organs purchased from a butcher and that they had to film the scene over the course of numerous takes as she vomited up one after another. Can't help but feel a bit sorry for the actor (Daniela Doria) who had to do this, but it sure makes for a grotesque and memorable scene. The director, Lucio Fulci, is known for his strange and grisly horror films, of which City of the Living Dead is a typical example.

A film well worth checking out. May also be found under the titles "The Gates of Hell", "Twilight of the Dead", "City of the Dead", and various other names in other countries.

3.5 lathes through the brain out of 5
Rated 18A for severe violence and gore, frightening scenes.


Watch the City of the Living Dead trailer.

The Orphanage (2007)

A tale of love. A story of horror.

The Orphanage is a Spanish film (this means subtitles for those who don't speak Spanish) from director Juan Antonio Bayona (Pans Labyrinth). A couple raising their young son in a former orphanage begin to experience strange events starting with their sons adoption of imaginary friends, the appearance of an unknown masked child, and finally the disappearance of their son. The ensuing search leads to the unraveling of the mysterious, and horrifying history of the orphanage, and a conclusion which will leave you guessing till the end.

The Orphanage is a genuinely creepy, frightening film... one of very few to have come out in recent years in which all out gore-fests have been largely favored over suspense and scariness. Definitely recommendable for fans of psychological horror, suspense, and ghost stories. Check it out, it's worth reading the subtitled for.

5 dead guys out of 5.
Rated 18A/R for some disturbing content. 

Watch the Orphanage trailer


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