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| Director: Masayuki Ochiai |
| Cast: Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor, Megumi Okina |
The Plot:
Soon after tying the knot, newlyweds Ben and Jane arrive in Japan for Ben's newest photography assignment. However, what was supposed to a blissful stay in a romantic city quickly turns into a horrifying nightmare that each can't wait to wake from. Tormented by a ghost like presence in all of their pictures, the couple's past seems to be lurking around, determined to agonize them for the rest of their lives. |
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The Movie:
With the success of 2002's The Ring and 2004's The Grudge, studios have been whipping out remakes of Japanese horror movies at a rapid pace. However, none have come close to mustering the notoriety that the genre's two original films were able to capture. Take for instance 2005's Dark Water or 2008's One Missed Call and you will understand my point.
Sadly, Shutter falls into the same category of the later two titles, containing enough potential to succeed, but ultimately failing to capture the audience and becoming a dismissal failure in the process.
I must admit that I had no expectations while watching this film. Sure the story had potential, but Joshua Jackson in a starring role just seemed ridiculous – and unfortunately I was right.
Held back by one of the worst acting jobs of the year, Joshua Jackson fails to entertain or scare as Ben, the film's lead character. However, it is hard to pinpoint the real problem with his performance. Was it his acting? Was it his interactions with co-star Rachael Taylor? Or was it really a bad character and he did his best with what he was given? Who knows? But regardless, the film was taken down several notches as a result.
But other than that, I will say that the film wasn't nearly as terrible as I had predicted. The gorgeous Rachael Taylor helped to pick up the slack that Jackson had created, and the final twist, though anticlimactic, really allowed the story to come together. Thus, this film is a step above that of Dark Water and One Missed Call, but a far cry from The Ring and The Grudge. |
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The Extras:
A Ghost in the Lins (8:09): This feature contains interviews with the cast and director about the film and spirit photography. Played up with spooky music, the feature is decent, but nowhere near a must see.
A Culture Divide: Shooting in Japan (9:21): Shot entirely in Japan, the cast and crew discuss the cultural difference that exists between the two countries. Though not very exciting, it is intriguing to hear them discuss the important of Jane, played by Rachael Taylor.
The Director: Masayuki Ochai (9:32): This exclusive interview is long and drawn out. Not to mention that it is done in Japanese, forcing you to read his answers.
The History of Spirit Photography (4:50): A very entertaining look at the history of spirit photography. Dealing with the rise and fall of the art, this feature teaches you anything and everything that you would ever want to know about the worldwide phenomenon.
Create Your Own Phantom Photo (4:00): Here you are taught how to create your own 'spirit photograph' using your computer. Interesting, but it takes away from the film's selling point, its story.
Alternate and Deleted Scenes (14:21): While many scenes were shown, there were really only three good ones that are worth seeing. And the highly publicized alternate ending is about as anticlimactic as you can get. |
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The Verdict:
Plagued by a bad leading cast member and an anticlimactic finish, Shutter is unable to get off the ground. Instead, it stays burrowed, never revealing itself and never really entertaining its audience. The Blu-Ray disc is unable to make up for its lackluster qualities, improving the special effects and visuals throughout, but ultimately falling short of enhancing the overall movie watching experience. Not to mention the bonus features, which are sadly nothing to boast about. |
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