Audition by Miike Takashi
March 3, 2000
115 min.
SO, the movie that was recommended to me by not one but TWO people. Was told that it was the creepiest scary movie they've seen yet, so it was on my list to try out since my goal of October 2008 is to be scared. Did this one do the trick?
The movie starts out with the main character, Aoyama, being a widow since his wife's death. His son, Shigehiko, and friend both decide that it is time for Aoyama to start seeing woman and the friend does this by throwing an audition. The audition features over 20 woman however 1 woman, Asami, sparks for Aoyama. Aoyama first meets Asami through the audition but having previously read her application noting she was the one.
Asami comes off as this soft-spoken women in her early 20's and being very mysterious however Aoyama finds something really attracting. So, to make things short, her mysterious side starts to gradually show as we get to the end of the film, although the process of getting there is this 1 hour and 20 minute drama sequence that drove me insane truly. Being a foreign film with english subtitles, it was a bit tortuing to sit through it reading subtitles this long until the actual stuff comes on, the scenes that people want to see.
Having watched Miike's "
Imprint" first, the Audition's tortue scenes do not compare and the tortue scene in Audition last about 15 minutes long while the majority of the film is talking, talking, mystery, and more talking! Overall, can't say I enjoyed this film nor did I think it was scary one bit. It was a little sickening but not scary. The story was a bit boring actually, and i really did not care about the characters except for Aoyama's friend since he was smart! He knew Asami was no good since her applications were full of lies and mystery.
Recommend to: Those enjoying dramatic build ups to a plotful climax.
Avoid if: Hate reading subtitles, have a weak stomach
Scare Factor Score: FAIL (C-)
OVERALL: 4/10
Next film....
Suicide Club by Sion Sono
2002
90 min.
Having watched this one before Audition, it was sort of like a relief film since this one was a bit better. This film was also recommended to me by an employee and Hollywood Video, saying it was intense and crazy. I would say this one is one of the most unique films I've seen in some time and it's full of suspensful scenes.
The story revovles around a detective trying to find out why a heard of school grils jumping in front of a train, having them die a gruesome death. Although, the suicidal deaths continue to grow in large numbers being a great mystery. There is a J-pop band named "Desert" featured throughout the film and they were suspected to have some involvement for the deaths from the start.
As the deaths continue growing, the detective struggles to find out what is going on, thus leading a young girl to discover the reasoning behind it all. Without giving too much away, there is a somewhat twist and this visual-kei group are suspected to be the leaders of this "Suicide Club" making it seem like the film is over but it continues. Could it be the J-pop band "Desert" behind it all?
Overall, the film is filled with LOTS of suicide deaths and that part of being tricked into going sucide is scary on its own. This film doesn't have ghost, killer-slasshers, torture scenes, but the thought of being consumed by trends and killing yourself is creepy. The first scene of 50 young girls jumping in front of the train has to be the most gruesome scene and the most surprising. Interesting story but the theme/concept was confusing and a blur. Had to read into it to discover that it's about "believing in yourself" and not to follow trends. (My final guess XD)
Recommend to: Movie-goers into different things, independent-goers, un-believers
Avoid if: Weak stomach, disapproves sucides
Scare Factor Score: Spooky/Moderately Scary (B)
OVERALL: 7.5/10
Last film for the day....
A Tale of Two Sisters by Kim Ji-woon
June 13, 2003
115 min.
Found out about this film in a forum I go to and checked out the trailer the same day. It looked like a great film that would be scary since it looks haunting. No doubt, the film is filled with ghostly scenes and it looks like the Grudge lady makes an appearance in here too! (Hopefully that didn't spoil anything, but myeah)
So without spoiling it for you, these sisters return home from the asylum bringing home secrets that have not been healed yet. The daughters come home to a step-mother which they have a hatred towards her. Their real mother had passed away and clues are revealed about the mother's death and the secrets behind the sister's identities shine.
Moving along, there is just a twist at the end, the grudge lady makes an appearance in this film a couple times being this scary person still. The film isn't too gruesome ither just haunting a bit. The story is interesting with the twist, the film direction is brilliant, the acting is on key. This movie is a bit spooky but not so much scary. It's not continious ghost scenes but more of a drama film.
Recommend to: Grudge and Ringu fans, twist-movie lovers, film lovers
Avoid if: haunting images/scenes mark you
Scare Factor Score: Spooky/Less Scary (B-)
OVERALL: 8/10
So, these will probably be the last of the foreign films I will watch. October is coming to a close already and the next batch of films are all American films. If you have a foreign film that you want to recommend, please post them for me to consider. I will glady consider them but might not review them.
Next Films to be Reviewed:- Amityville Horror (1979) [Expected Scare Factor: A]
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078767/
- The Birds
(1963) [Expected Scare Factor: C]
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056869/
- Pshycho (1960) [Expected Scare Factor: B]
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054215/
- Poltergeist [Expected Scare Factor: B-]
