I consider myself retired from modern Asian ghost films after having been stung by the likes of The Grudge, The Ring, The Eye, A Tale of Two Sisters etc...but I decided to give this one a chance anyway because it was a part of the Eight Films to Die For series (which I've been slowly making my way through) and because the plot sounded rather interesting. While I would say that this film is above average for its type; and certainly better than most of the other modern Japanese horror films that I've seen, I wouldn't really say it was worth the time or effort. The plot focuses on a young actress that is given a role in a horror film after proclaiming to the producers that she would be perfect for the role as she was killed in a previous life. The film depicts the real life murders of a bunch of hotel guests by a crazed madman, and it's being filmed at the very place where the massacre took place. It's not long before the actress begins to be haunted by the malevolent ghosts killed at the hotel.
The film is very slow and takes a while to get going. I've got no problem with this in theory, but unfortunately the build up to the plot and the central character are not very interesting, which makes things a bit tedious right from the start. Once it does finally get going (over halfway through the film), things do get a little more interesting and director Takashi Shimizu (who directed The Grudge, its sequels and remakes) even manages some really creepy sequences; one taking place in a library is the best, but the ending is rather well done too. The film does seem to expect the viewer to invest some thought in the plot; and for me this is the worst thing about it. It's just not interesting enough to captivate the viewer in order to make us want to invest any extra effort in the viewing. To the film's credit, the style is rather good and the director does have an eye for horror. Overall, the film didn't do enough for me to bother recommending it. The fact that it was a part of After Dark's series will (hopefully) mean there won't be a remake on the horizon any time soon.
The film is very slow and takes a while to get going. I've got no problem with this in theory, but unfortunately the build up to the plot and the central character are not very interesting, which makes things a bit tedious right from the start. Once it does finally get going (over halfway through the film), things do get a little more interesting and director Takashi Shimizu (who directed The Grudge, its sequels and remakes) even manages some really creepy sequences; one taking place in a library is the best, but the ending is rather well done too. The film does seem to expect the viewer to invest some thought in the plot; and for me this is the worst thing about it. It's just not interesting enough to captivate the viewer in order to make us want to invest any extra effort in the viewing. To the film's credit, the style is rather good and the director does have an eye for horror. Overall, the film didn't do enough for me to bother recommending it. The fact that it was a part of After Dark's series will (hopefully) mean there won't be a remake on the horizon any time soon.