Shutter (I) (2008)

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.

Director:

Masayuki Ochiai

Writer:

Giles Luke Dawson (screenplay)

Stars:

Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor, Megumi Okina

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joshua Jackson	...	Ben
Rachael Taylor	...	Jane
Megumi Okina	...	Megumi
David Denman	...	Bruno
John Hensley	...	Adam
Maya Hazen	...	Seiko
James Kyson	...	Ritsuo (as James Kyson Lee)
Yoshiko Miyazaki	...	Akiko
Kei Yamamoto	...	Murase
Daisy Betts	...	Natasha
Adrienne Pickering	...	Megan
Pascal Morineau	...	Wedding Photographer
Masaki Ota	...	Police Officer
Heideru Tatsuo	...	Police Officer
Eri Otoguro	...	Yoko

Storyline

A newlywed couple Ben and Jane move to Japan for a promising job opportunity - a fashion shoot in Tokyo. During their trip on a dark forest road they experience a tragic car accident, leading to the death of a young local girl. Upon regaining consciousness, they find no trace of her body. A bit distraught the couple arrives in Tokyo to begin their new life. Meanwhile Ben begins noticing strange white blurs in many of his fashion shoot photographs. Jane believes that the blurs are actually spirit photography of the dead girl who they hit on the road, and that she may be seeking vengeance.

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Plot Keywords:

japan | car accident | photographer | newlywed | photograph | 

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Taglines:

Revenge Never Dies!

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

20th Century Fox [fr] 20th Century Fox [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

21 March 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Okidač

Filming Locations:

Tokyo, Japan

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£72,574 (UK) (16 May 2008)

Gross:

$25,926,543 (USA) (20 June 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Regency Enterprises, New Regency Pictures, Vertigo Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min 90 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

DVD commentary is done by Luke Dawson (screenplay), Alex Sundell (production executive) and Rachael Taylor.

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Goofs

While in the honeymoon cabin, the camera Ben is using is clearly a medium format camera. Later however, when they are looking at the pictures Seiko dropped off, the negatives attached to the envelope are 35mm negatives.

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Quotes

Benjamin Shaw: I'm not your fucking father!

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Connections

Referenced in Stan Helsing (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Come On Shake"
Written by Ali Dee (as Ali Theodore) and Michael Sandlofer
Performed by Shake
Courtesy of DeeTown Entertainment

User Reviews

PERFECT! for our image of American youth...

I think this movie shows exactly how Hollywood sees America's youth. Compelled by fashionably dressed model women, sometimes half naked, bright colors, spooky images and scenes that are only there to make you jump. Oh... and I forgot, no brains. They think you're all idiots so they give you this cliché garbage.

Skinny attractive woman who couldn't act if it were cursed on her, walks around always looking fresh and dumb in designer clothes. This movie is about as intelligent as a log. Everything seems forced and none of it is original or done in a compelling way. I have to wonder if English was the native language of the director since most of the dialog is unacceptably terrible. Many times I cringed or laughed at things that I knew weren't meant to have that kind of reaction.

Poorly paced, poorly written, poorly acted, the effects are okay. I haven't seen the original, but conceptually, this movie could have been great if it were done the right way. Unfortunately, it was not. F-