Shutter (2008)

Director:

Masayuki Ochiai

Writer:

Luke Dawson (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 March 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The most terrifying images are the ones that are real.

Plot:

A newly married couple discovers disturbing, ghostly images in photographs they develop after a tragic accident. Fearing the manifestations may be connected, they investigate and learn that some mysteries are better left unsolved.

Plot Keywords:

Culture Shock | Vomit | Apparition | Remake Of Asian Film | Photograph

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Joshua Jackson	...	Benjamin Shaw
Rachael Taylor	...	Jane Shaw
Megumi Okina	...	Megumi Tanaka
David Denman	...	Bruno
John Hensley	...	Adam
Maya Hazen	...	Seiko
James Kyson Lee	...	Ritsuo
Yoshiko Miyazaki	...	Akiko
Kei Yamamoto	...	Murase
Daisy Betts	...	Natasha
Adrienne Pickering	...	Megan
Pascal Morineau	...	Wedding Photographer
Masaki Ota	...	Police Officer #1
Heideru Tatsuo	...	Police Officer #2
Eri Otoguro	...	Yoko

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for terror, disturbing images, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

Argentina:85 min | USA:85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Malaysia:U | South Korea:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Sweden:15 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Germany:16 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Finland:K-15 | Australia:MA (2008) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43974) | Argentina:16 | Ireland:16 | Singapore:PG | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Ozla Pictures

Trivia:

Not screened for critics.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the ghost touches Ben's neck while he is in the darkroom, the arm shown is clad in dark wool identical to his wife's sweater. The phone rings and when he answers it, it's his wife, leading Ben to realize something is wrong. When he goes back into the darkroom, he is confronted by the ghost, which is not wearing dark clothing, but rather the pale dress she is seen in throughout the film.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Shutter (2004/II)

Good Remake, But...

Before I reviewed this American remake of a highly regarded Thai horror film from 2004, I ordered a copy of the original to make a comparison.

Although the original is superior, the remake, to be fair smooths out some of the inconsistencies of the tale. This is not always a good thing as it's these little things that give the story a bit of character and individuality.

To be brief, the story involves the haunting of an American photographer and his new wife in Japan after hitting a young woman with their car on a lonely country road.

Most of the ghostly horror is more suggested than overt, with images appearing in photographs and just out of direct sight. Most of the set pieces from the original are here, but several of the most startling and effective moments of horror are missing. The unfortunate PG-13 rating keeps everything in check, so, while compelling, the horror is fairly muted. Another fault is the ghost lacks a bit of the personality the original has in spades. The final twist takes the story in a very different direction and is quite startling. But, like another reviewer wrote, leaves you feeling justice has been done.

Not a great film, but very watchable and satisfying.