Voice (2005) User Reviews

Ambiguous Ghost and Confused Story

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 23 June 2007]

While training after hours in her high-school, the aspirant singer Park Young-Eon (Ok-bin Kim) is mysteriously killed and her body vanishes. Her ghost is invisible and trapped in the school, but her best friend Kang Sun-min (Ji-hye Seo), who broadcast in the lunchtime in school, is able to hear her voice. After the suicide of their music teacher, Sun-min, aided by her mate Cho-Ah (Ye-ryeon Cha), finds that another student, Hyo-Jung (Hyeon-kyeong Lim), died in the same elevator trunk some time ago. Meanwhile Young-Eon recalls details of her life, disclosing why she died.

"The Voice" has an intriguing beginning with a scared invisible ghost trying to uncover why she died. The mystery is disclosed in low pace, but the revelation is very disappointing and confused. The ambiguity of Young-Eon contradicts her behavior along the story, and in spite of the explanation of Cho-Ah that ghosts recall only the parts of their past lives that they want to remember, I did not like her mean motives. Further, I have not understood the last scene when Sun-min looks herself in the mirror and then talks to her mother. In my opinion, the screenplay deserved an improvement. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

A ghost story told from the other side.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 6/10 · 15 September 2011]

Thing that I can appreciate about this movie series is that it keeps reinventing itself with each movie. Even though the main premise always remains the same, they still manage to come up with new fresh takes on it.

This movie is perhaps the most original one of its series, when it comes down to its approach but at the same time I also really wouldn't want to call it the best one of the its series.

The thing that makes this movie original is its approach. Instead of being a typical ghost story, it tries to be a more emotionally involving one, by actually telling large part of the story from the viewpoint of an actual ghost. So people who are expecting an horror, with all of the thrills and scares that go along with this, will perhaps feel cheated and disappointed by this movie but those who want something 'different' for a change will surely be able to appreciate this.

But the movie itself is only half good really. So yes, it has an original approach to its genre but it is only able to do so much with it. The movie runs out of steam about halfway through and when the movie picks up pace again the story suddenly becomes needlessly complicated and hard to follow, which is also a bit in contrast with the rest of the movie.

Other than that this movie is one fine and originally done genre movie, that never becomes truly bad but in the end also never really stands out in any way, despite its original approach.

6/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

The ghost remembers only what it wants to...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 27 June 2017]

I have only seen the first movie in the "Wishing Stairs" franchise, so I can't really claim to know whether or not there is a continuity throughout the movies, or whether or not you need to watch the movies chronologically in order to get more out of the movies. But I do believe that they serve as stand-alone movies as well. And with that impression I sat down to watch "Wishing Stairs 4: Voice" (aka "Yeogo goedam 4: Moksori").

Well, actually since this is a South Korean horror movie, then I needed absolutely no convincing in order to sit down to invest 1 hour and 44 minutes of watching the movie from writer Joon-Seok Sol and writer/director Equan Choi.

The movie does start out quite well and does not waste any time in having to go through a prolonged time of establishing the story, character development and having to build up the atmosphere of the movie. No, "Wishing Stairs 4: Voice" just starts out with the good stuff, so to speak, right from the very beginning. And that set the movie for an intense start. However, the air quickly deflated from the balloon, so to speak, and the movie lost momentum as the storyline settled into a slow, monotonous pace as the befuddled story unfolded on the screen.

And it was a nice change of the usual approach that Asian movies take on ghost stories; you know, the one where the ghost is a woman in a white dress and having her black hair covering her entire face. This movie, luckily, didn't fall into that stereotypical niché, and that made for a refreshing approach. In fact, the movie would have been comical in a sense if they had opted for that particular type of ghost for this movie. However, it would have been that much better if they had ensured that the ghost didn't cast a shadow whenever there was light on it; it would have added that much more sense of supernatural to it instead of it just being a regular girl portraying a ghost.

Storywise, then "Wishing Stairs 4: Voice" seems a bit flimsily and seems to want to focus on a bit too many things, which means that the prime focus of the movie sort of becomes blurry along the way. Focus and detail get lost and the movie does suffer a bit from that, especially because it is a bit difficult to keep track of what it is that director Equan Choi is trying to portray and accomplish with the various things.

"Wishing Stairs 4: Voice" is listed as a horror movie, but you actually have to look long and hard to find anything scary about the movie. I would say that the movie better qualifies as a supernatural thriller more than it does as a horror movie.

The two leading actresses OK-bin Kim (playing Young-eon) and Ji-hye Seo (playing Seon-min) were quite nicely cast for their roles in this movie, and they carried the movie quite well with their performances. Actually everyone on the cast list was doing well in the movie, which was a great for the overall result of the movie.

The music score for the movie was actually quite good, with lots of fitting and atmospheric music that complimented the movie in a very good way.

I will say that there are so nice visual effects in the movie, and the special effects do serve their purposes quite well in furthering the story and bringing it to life on the screen. The elevator scene was rather interesting, nicely constructed and filmed, but it felt rather anti-climatic.

The lack of scares and horror element and a somewhat befuddled storyline caused the movie to suffer, and the movie wasn't allowed to become all that it could have been. As such, it ends up as a rather mediocre movie. And I must also admit that once the initial thrilling and well-paced start of the movie was over, and the story settled into a monotonous pace, then it was hard to keep focus on the movie and it was progressively difficult to maintain an interest in the movie. But I stuck with it, hoping that the movie would pick up pace and become more interesting.

My rating of "Wishing Stairs 4: Voice" ends on a flat 5 out of 10 stars.

Decent horror flick that has an emotional weight to it

[thomvic · 25 October 2011]

First of all, for those who expect to be scared out of their mind with this film - you will be disappointed but if you look at this film from a different angle, you will find this film really touches on how loneliness can alienate all of us whether we are alive or dead.

The film tells how a girl Young-eon, a talented singer in her high school is murdered by a music sheet (sounds ridiculous but it will make sense when you watch it) and ends up becoming a ghost - only her best friend can hear her and help her find out what happened.

What the film explores is the feeling of being lonely and also being remembered. The two lead actresses do a great job in portraying the emotions and confusion of two teenagers and also bring out their friendship in a believable way. The film I would say is more psychologically driven in the thriller mode and it's pace is more steady which gives you time to get to know the characters.

Some scenes are spooky, and the film has an ambiguous atmosphere (as most Asian horrors do) so they keep you watching till the end so you can uncover all the mystery of the plot. I prefer horror films where you can have some emotional substance as it can sometimes take a turn that just shatters you - this film doesn't do that but makes you sympathise with the characters as well as be slightly spooked out.

The ending perhaps is a bit cliché - and also makes you question the main protagonists position in her actions and if she would do that (so much for friendship - that's all I'm saying) but overall I enjoyed this film and didn't bore me compared to some other Asian horror's I've seen in the past few days (Doll Master for one).

Recommended

[pablosantafe73 · 7/10 · 18 October 2005]

I haven't seen the third part of this series, although I have to say that it's better than the first and the second ones. I agree with the fact that this movie should be seen as a drama with supernatural details and not as a horror film. The atmosphere that this movie generates as it advances,turns to get you short of breath. This atmosphere is possible thanks to the sentimental aspect of the main characters and the suffering given off and not with frights in the style of Hollywood. Good performances and the excellent music help to get that atmosphere. The way in which the story is told makes audience be interested till the last second of it.

More creepy goings-on in a haunted high school

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 24 April 2011]

The fourth in a series of South Korean ghost films, all of them set within haunted schools for girls. Like some of the previous instalments, most of the focus on this one is on drama rather than horror, although there are a handful of RING-inspired shock sequences along the way to appease the fans.

This is quite an unwieldy movie that delivers little you'd expect. Once it settles into gear, it feels a bit like an Asian version of GHOST as the spirit of a murdered schoolgirl attempts to figure out the reasons behind her death. Things get stranger as they go on, with the usual bouts of teen hysteria, lesbianism and bratty students. The cast are solid but the direction competent rather than decent, and while this film throws some intriguing slants on the usual ghostly plot lines it's definitely the weakest entry in the series yet.

Not scary but sad.

[jemima_ · 9/10 · 28 August 2005]

I've seen every Whispering Corridor series. Since I'm a middle school girl in Korea, films with school as its background have always appealed to me. And this is why people keep watching Whispering Corridor series and expecting something different to the other horror films from them, even though the series are going worse and worse(I don't think so but most people think that way).

Anyway, I've never seen a film like this which got such terrible scores from every single review web site. Yet I like this film(maybe I've got such a weird taste). This film is not scary, really. I didn't screamed at all watching this film though I'm kind of person who get easily surprised... Is there anyone watched the second Whispering Corridor? This fourth one resembles the second one. Not really scary, but emotionally touching, and a bit chilly.

If you watch this film as a horror film, you'll probably long to give it one point or less than that. However if you just watch this film without minding the genre, you'll give at least seven point to it. Acting is just 'okay' and this is why it doesn't seem as good as the second Whispering Corridor even though it has as great plot as the second one. In a film which contains many emotional parts like this acting is a really significant thing but this film is lacking of it. Also graphic is a bit clumsy. I don't know whether or not the director intended it to be clumsy, but it is disturbingly awkward.

It's like a drama/detective stuff rather than horror. If you want to enjoy feeling of being chilled and letting your stress fly away by screaming, I really don't want to recommend it. If you like detective things, I highly recommend it to you.

Ambiguously bad.

[blaznazn · 5/10 · 25 December 2005]

This movie started out great, albeit coming off as a little derivative in the style of introducing the ghost. But as the movie went on, the story unfolded itself VERY slowly and I was presented with a number of flashbacks that I'm still not sure why they were included in the movie. I was already greatly confused by the story and these flashbacks certainly did not alleviate my confusion. Yet still, the story went on and my little anticipation for the truth gradually diminished. By the time the main character is finally being told of the truth, I had lost all my interest, not to mention the explanation itself made very little sense. On top of all this, the ambiguous ending was very unsatisfying to me after having sat through this mildly-interesting bore-fest.

I understand some movies are meant to be ambiguously good so that the viewers can interpret everything themselves. This movie is not one of them.

The Second Greatest Korean Horror Film Of All Time

[ebossert · 10/10 · 8 May 2008]

This installment is the strongest of the "Whispering Corridors" series. The rule system regarding the communication between the ghosts and humans is interesting, and is utilized well when everything comes together near the end of the film. There is limited (yet successful) use of special effects and the night time atmosphere is very good, using dark red lighting on numerous occasions that rivals the beauty of Dario Argento's "Suspiria." Everything about this movie screams quality, from the interesting storyline to the excellent acting to the effective, stylish horror elements. The scene that plays during the closing credits is something really special. This is a beautiful film with fantastic scriptwriting.

The sense of friendship is much stronger in "Voice" than in any of its predecessors. This is due mostly to the fact that the movie is seen through the eyes of the ghost instead of the living schoolgirl, which automatically humanizes the spirit instead of portraying it as some inhuman entity that floats around. In addition, the supporting characters are very likable and important in the storyline this time around; the third actress (playing the allegedly psychotic student) gives one of the best performances in the entire film. Finally, the play on ghostly voices is really great stuff because the strength of the ghost's voice is a direct gauge on the strength of her existence.

The horror elements may not be the scariest of the "Whispering Corridors" series (that nod goes to "Wishing Stairs"), but they are very unique (especially the elevator scene). If you're looking for anything more than a few tame deaths you'll most definitely be disappointed. No matter though, this film is still magnificent anyways.

Fans of Hollywood horror may be disappointed that the teen girls in this movie are actually somewhat mature and likable. I know American audiences tend to like their teens as trashy and stupid as humanly possible, but the girls in Voice are very intelligent and classy. This may prove "boring" for your typical teenie bopper surfer kids who like American slasher movies, which is yet another reason to watch this movie. Oh, and this film does make sense. Check out my explanation thread on the IMDb message board.

In all honesty, the only South Korean horror film that beats "Voice" out is "A Tale of Two Sisters." But then again, that movie beats everything out anyways. :)

i love this movie

[sadoka · 10/10 · 15 May 2006]

i love this movie be cores it went deep inside me like no other movie have ever done before . I think that to really understand this movie is important to have been in a school like that ,i could recognize some things from my own school days .But back to the movie all the characters have secretes kept away from the viewer like the music teacher did she have lesbian relations whit the two young girls ,it is rumors you hear in the movie and you can believe them or not i have never seen that in movie . I will not call it a horror movie it is more a thriller but it had some scary moments and a very surprising ending . This movie is truly a piece of art and i really don't hope that they try to do a remake in the U.S

The best horror movie I have ever seen

[dream_star23 · 9/10 · 23 September 2005]

I uses IMDb a lot to check on movies. But I've never bothered to register and leave any comments. This is my first time leaving a comment for a movie, because I think this movie is worth to recommend to those who is bored of lame Asian horror movies.

Although I'm not very old, but I've seen really a lot of horror movies from many countries. And this one is the best I've ever seen (only personal opinion though).

From the beginning till the end there isn't one disgusting scene or sudden appearing to just visually scare people. From my point of view, i think it's good really, as long as it can still scare me (and it did).

Although a few points in the movie is not very logical (maybe I'm a picky person, I do care logic a lot even when I watch entertaining horror movies), but still i think it's very success as a horror movie with class.

One more thing I still have to mention is the music. It's the best part of the movie, i think. I'm really looking forward to the release of its OST.

Pretty good South Korean ghost story.

[HumanoidOfFlesh · 8/10 · 21 September 2006]

"Voice" tells the story of Young-uhn,who one day wakes up dead.Her ghost haunts her high-school ground.Only her best friend,a school DJ named Seon-min can hear her voice.Aided by the school's resident psychic girl,Seon-min attempts to uncover the terrifying mystery behind her friend's death.The fourth installment of "Whispering Corridors" series is an interesting horror film.The film seriously lacks scares,but it more than makes up for it with relying on suspense,mystery and drama.The acting is great,the piano score is absolutely brilliant and the cinematography is flawless."Voice" is basically just a sad and solemn story that attempts to show what a spirit might feel in the first days after its body has died.Give it a look.8 out of 10.

Even Ghosts Get Scared in Voice, the Fourth Whispering Corridors Installment

[totalovrdose · 8/10 · 30 January 2015]

The image of a lone student, traveling the inescapable corridors of a school after dark is quite haunting, her silhouette visible through the windows of the campus, as an unidentifiable force toys with the school's lighting. Is the young lady to blame, or is there something more sinister at work? This is just one scene from Voice, the fourth film in the Whispering Corridors franchise, where a spooky and disturbing ambiance is accompanied by not only visual terror, but sound, that proves to be as equally fear provoking. Despite darkness often becoming clichéd and annoying in some horror films to halter the audience from seeing the lead antagonist, here, the tactic is effectively used, the childhood fear of the dark returning to haunt adult audiences and characters alike, the impressive use of effects adding to the terror, making Voice the most visually stunning of this particular horror franchise.

The cover art on the American release of Voice, depicts a hand violently tearing its way out from a woman's mouth. Although there are more than a couple scenes with blood, much like its predecessors, this stand alone horror film does not depend on graphic violence to shock its audience. Additionally, much like the previous features, themes concerning friendship, love and jealousy are prominent, and like Memento Mori and Wishing Stairs, the story is also equipped with lesbianism.

Characters are intellectually portrayed, with emotional connections between characters and the audience been effectively constructed to build a poignant storyline. This is heightened, again, in contrast with Memento Mori, where the viewer is provided with a beautiful scene, which is later revealed to be sad or gruesome once it's put in perspective. Initially it can be difficult to ascertain where these flashbacks fit within the story, originally feeling like a continuation of the central plot.

Seon-min's (Ji-hye Seo) best friend Young-eon (Ok-Bin Kim), is the most talented singer in an all girl's high school, her voice delightfully serenading viewer's ears. One night, she stays behind after dark inside the confine's of the music room to work on her vocal capabilities, only to be murdered by an unrecognizable assailant. Her body is no where to be found the following morning, many suspecting her to simply be absent, though Seon-min thinks otherwise, her thoughts eventually been confirmed.

Unlike other ghost stories where specters can be viewed physically, only Young-eon's auditory capabilities remain, and though the audience can clearly see her character standing beside her best friend, Seon-min is only capable of hearing her voice. This uniquely entertaining prospect is accompanied by the focus on the ghost, Young-eon's perspective after becoming an apparition been as equally focused upon as the other central characters. Unable to leave the grounds of the high school, we discover that she is as equally vulnerable to fear in her current state, as she was when alive, this vulnerability been transferred onto the audience.

As the story continues, the mystery behind Young-eon's death is unraveled, as Seon-min, alongside fellow student Cho-ah (Ye-ryeon Cha) investigate who killed her from the list of suspects, and why. By the end of the feature, some questions remain unanswered, but unlike other Whispering Corridors films, this doesn't always feel like a deliberate tactic, as much as it does an overlooked plot point. Sometimes shocking, sometimes surprising, and often unpredictable, Voice dares to ask its viewers, even in death, do we truly know who we are?

Out Of The 4 So Far In The Series, This Is The Best Yet

[Foutainoflife · 8/10 · 17 March 2019]

I only recently started watching the Whispering Corridors series. I've been watching them in order and in my opinion, this has been the best so far. If I had to pin down what made it so much better, I'd say it was the music. It felt sad, eerie and, well, haunting.

The film moves at slow but fairly steady pace. The actors did a decent job playing their characters. It does get a little confusing towards the end and I had to play through it again to make sure I understood it all.

The final takeaway from this is simply that it is a good ghost movie. I am glad I decided to check the series out and this one is giving me hope that the next will be just as good.