We are again treated to a storytelling scenario but the sequel fails to outdo it's predecessor. This time around we get a collection of short stories that have a conclusive ending but that doesn't make up for an incredibly messy narrative. The stories were also a bit less interesting and incredibly predictable. One story in particular tried to take a comedy/horror route which, while somewhat funny, made very little sense. I also found the pacing to be quite slow, adding to an overall mundane effort.
I have seen this film on countless best Asian horror lists and finally decided to watch it. Besides Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl this has to be the worst Asian film I have ever had the displeasure to watch. If the synopsis seems weird that's because it is and not in a good way-it doesn't really make sense when you watch it. It's a major problem when I have to look up the plot online because I didn't fully understand what was going on. The biggest crime that this film commits is that it's painfully boring-I have always found pacing to be an issue in a lot of Asian horror films but this movie takes it to a new extreme. Nothing really happens until the last 20 minutes of the film and by then I have become so disinterested that I don't even care. There are far better and even mediocre Asian horror films to watch-please don't waste your time and sanity on this atrocity.
This anthology is a pretty good collection of interesting tales. Loneliness is decently creepy albeit the weakest of the bunch. Deadly Charm is my personal favorite segment, very chilling and surreal. Man In The Middle is a fun story combining humor and horror, a nice break from the serious tone. The Last Flight is a solid tale with an unusual but intriguing premise. Overall, an entertaining horror film that was well acted and nicely paced.
Occult is another documentary style horror film directed by Koji Shiraishi. The story was interesting and filled with Japanese mythology. The buildup from a random act of violence to a series of various related strange occurrences was well done and cohesive. The acting is good as the actors have to come across very natural. The music is one of the best parts of the movie-the sounds are jarring and add to the unsettling tone of the film. Although not as strong a film as Noroi, Occult is still a decent movie worth watching.
This was the first drama that I ended up not liking. I have seen this drama on countless best drama lists and it was written by the Hong sisters so I thought I would love it-I was very wrong. It starts out okay, a teenage boy and girl who don't like each other are forced to get married after the boy spends the night in the girl's room. This premise worked, I usually like cohabitation dramas. But after they graduate high school the drama became a frustrating mess. Another big issue I had with the show is that the only characters I liked were Mong Ryong's friend Ji Hyuk and his dad. Choon Hyang was initially portrayed to be a strong character but when it came to standing up for herself she was a total pushover. I hated Mong Ryong the most, he was such a stupid and irritating character. He spends far too much time with another woman while he's married and he gets angry with Choon Hyang for being cold to him. I didn't like him or the second male lead at all-I shipped Choon Hyang staying single. If the second male lead had been the least bit likable I would have shipped him like there's no tomorrow. But alas, he was a controlling jerk who tried to blackmail Choon Hyang into being with him. The last few episodes picked up and were decent but not enough to make up for the hours of annoyance that I had experienced. I liked the music a lot and I thought that the fact that she made jewelry was interesting. I wouldn't recommend this show unless you are trying to watch all the Hong sisters' dramas. There are far better ways to waste time than watching this. If this had been my first Asian drama then I don't think I would have ever watched another one.
I am always attracted to serial killer plots and this film had an interesting premise. I enjoyed the movie but I felt that the final conclusion was easily discernible early on in the film, thus lessening the impact of the big reveal. Although the acting was generally good, I found the lead actress to be severely lacking. Her stiff portrayal of the character was emotionless and bland. I was pleasantly surprised by the graphic and gory scenes, far different from the usual atmospheric Asian horror/thriller. Overall, 'Tell Me Something' is a unique and slow-paced thriller that fans of the genre will like.
Yet another great Thai horror film from the directing team of Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom. An interesting and nicely paced film that manages to be creepy and suspenseful. It ends with the trademark Thai twist that fit the film nicely.
Phobia 2 is the rare horror sequel that surpasses it's predecessor. Novice is a great story that uses elements that I have rarely seen in other horror films (Gods, Buddhism, etc). Ward and Backpackers are the weakest entries here although both are still pretty decent. Salvage is a nice addition with a good twist ending. In The End is my favorite tale and is another horror/comedy combo that has become a staple of the series. The story was actually really funny and creepy, a feat not achieved by many other films. It would make the movie worthy of a watch even if all the other stories weren't good (but thankfully they are).
Taiwan's first slasher movie really packed a punch. You don't see many Asian slasher films, they tend to be more psychological and supernatural. The story isn't especially unique but the plot moves at a brisk pace. The movie is quite suspenseful and keeps you guessing. The budget was low but the gore effects turned out really well. Acting ranged from good to bad but it didn't effect the overall enjoyment of the film. Great Taiwanese horror film that fans of the genre should check out.
