The Tattooist (2007)

A young artist unknowingly plays a role in releasing a deadly spirit as he attempts to learn tatau, the Samoan tradition of tattooing.

Director:

Peter Burger

Writers:

Matthew Grainger, Jonathan King

Stars:

Jason Behr, Mia Blake, David Fane

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Behr	...	Jake Sawyer
Mia Blake	...	Sina
David Fane	...	Mr. Va'a
Robbie Magasiva	...	Alipati
Ian Vincent	...	The Tattooist / Lemi
Caroline Cheong	...	Victoria
Nathaniel Lees	...	Mr. Perenese
Michael Hurst	...	Crash
John Bach	...	Lazlo McFadden
Matailiili Denzel Tuimauga	...	Osone
Glen Jackson	...	Cousin #1
Edmund Paongo	...	Cousin #2
Fasitua Amosa	...	Dr. Lima
Lauren A Jackson	...	Triage Nurse (as Lauren Jackson)
Alison Bruce	...	Charge Nurse

Storyline

American tattoo artist Jake Sawyer wanders the world, exploring and exploiting ethnic themes in his tattoo designs. At a tattoo expo in Singapore, he gets his first glimpse at the exotic world of traditional Samoan tattoo (tatau), and, in a thoughtless act, unwittingly unleashes a powerful angry spirit. In his devastating journey into Pacific mysticism, Jake must find a way to save his new love, Sina and recover his own soul.

---

Plot Keywords:

tattoo | samoan | tattooing | singapore | angry spirit | 

---

Taglines:

Evil in ink.

---

Genres:

Horror | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, disturbing images, language and brief sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [New Zealand]

Country:

New Zealand Netherlands Singapore

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 November 2007 (Singapore)

Also Known As:

Tattooist - Das Böse geht unter die Haut

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Daydream Productions, Eyeworks Touchdown, Mediacorp Raintree Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Sina: You should pay your respects
Jake Sawyer: I might when he puts down the knife

---

Connections

References Braveheart (1995)

User Reviews

Weird Horror Movie

The American tattooist Jake Sawyer (Jason Behr) travels around the world researching tattoos and tattooing clients. While in Singapore, he steals a tool that belongs to the Samoan family of his acquaintance Sina (Mia Blake); however he has a problem with a client that expected that his tattoo could heal his sick son and Jake accidentally cuts his palm with the tool. Jake returns to New Zealand where he meets Sina again and has a cold reception from her family that knows that he has stolen their tool. They visit a Samoan family that has been living in shame since their missing son did not finish a traditional ritual with the tattoos. Sooner Jake finds that his recent clients are chased by a fiend that is somehow connected to the Samoan tool, and he discloses a dark secret in the Samoan community.

"The Tattooist" is a weird horror movie for those like me that are not used to the Samoan rituals and traditions, more specifically to the Traditional Samoan tattooing of the pe'a, body tattoo. I have found many articles about this subject in Google (for example, http://www.samoa.co.uk/tattoos.html) that helped me to understand the plot. Therefore, in my opinion, this movie fails for not providing a better clarification of the Samoan tattoo history. If the viewer clearly understands this matter, the horror makes sense and "The Tattooist" is an original movie of this genre. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Tatuador" ("The Tattoist")