The Tattooist (2007)

Director:

Peter Burger

Writers:

Matthew Grainger
Jonathan King

Release Date:

29 November 2007 (Singapore)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Evil in ink.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Tattooing | Singapore | New Zealand | Mysticism | Tattoo Artist

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

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 Tuimaunga	...	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
Allison Strickett	...	Second Nurse
Pip Hall	...	Third Nurse
Dean Sacred	...	Canine
Chen Bangzhi	...	Luke (as Bang Zhi Chen)
Seiloga Sita	...	Perenese Daughter
Misa Tupou	...	Perenese son-in-law
Gerald Chew	...	Mr. Lim
Aleni Tufuga	...	Peni (as Aleni Tufunga)
Stuart Devenie	...	Senior Doctor
Justine Semei-Barton	...	Mrs. Perenese
Isabella Galluzzo	...	Chanel
Matthew Ridge	...	Graham
Timothy Balme	...	Jake's Father (as Tim Balme)
Jarred Blakiston	...	Young Jake Sawyer
Helene Wong	...	Aunt Suzy
Trevor Sai Louie	...	Uncle Ken (as Trevor Sai-Louie)
Pete Smith	...	Taxi Driver 1
Vela Manusaute	...	Taxi Driver 2
Tovey Lemusa	...	Semo
Peni Tuala	...	Opeta
Sijie Chan	...	Mr. Lim's Son
Yu-Beng Lim	...	Mr. Lim's Lawyer
Andy Wong	...	Expo Customer
Roy Levy	...	Church Minister (as Reverend Roy Levy)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mema Maeli	...	Herself (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Burger

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Matthew Grainger
Jonathan King

Produced by
Pui Yin Chan	....	co-producer
Julie Christie	....	producer
Paul Davis	....	executive producer
James Dean	....	producer
Ng San San	....	co-producer
Robin Scholes	....	producer
Daniel Yun	....	producer

Original Music by
Peter Scholes

Cinematography by
Leon Narbey

Film Editing by
Paul Maxwell

Casting by
Christina Asher

Production Design by
Gary Mackay

Costume Design by
Gavin McLean

Makeup Department
Mike Mekash	....	special makeup effects artist
Claire Rutledge	....	key makeup artist
Deb Watson	....	makeup designer

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fiona MacMillan	....	second assistant director
Liz Tan	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Troy Hannett	....	head scenic
Wade Hannett	....	scenic artist
Clara Lill	....	property master
Donna Pearman	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Stefan Brough	....	sound effects editor
Chris Burt	....	sound designer
Gethin Creagh	....	sound re-recording mixer
Francis Linehan	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Brett Beacham	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Dan Perry	....	prosthetics makeup

Visual Effects by
Maile Daugherty	....	visual effects producer
Ray Jay	....	visual effects
Andrew McCully	....	digital effects artist
Peter McCully	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Glen Levy	....	stunt double
Steve McQuillan	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Cunningham	....	first assistant camera
Kevin Donovan	....	key grip
Dale McCready	....	camera operator
Dale McCready	....	director of photography: second unit
Grant McKinnon	....	gaffer
Todd Nevill	....	grip
Jim Rowe	....	best boy grip
Philip A.T. Smith	....	clapper loader
Manning Tillman	....	camera operator: underwater unit (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Deb Brown	....	costume supervisor
Adele Hing	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Clare Burlinson	....	digital intermediate colorist
David Hollingsworth	....	telecine operator
Damian McDonnell	....	assistant editor
Shanon Moratti	....	digital intermediate artist
Adam Scott	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Matthew Wear	....	telecine operator

Other crew
Alex Cole-Baker	....	production accountant
Veronique Lawrence	....	script supervisor
Sue May	....	unit publicist
Damian Molloy	....	safety supervisor/medic
David Pollison	....	acquisition consultant for Ghost House Underground
Andy Wickens	....	lab liaison

Production Companies

• Daydream Productions (executive producer)
• Eyeworks Touchdown
• Mediacorp Raintree Pictures
• New Zealand Film Commission

Distributors

• Golden Village Entertainment (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Mediacorp Raintree Pictures (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Ghost House Pictures (2008) (USA) (all media)
• Ghosthouse Underground (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Koch Media (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Prime Pictures (2009) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Tinsley Studio (special make-up effect tattoos)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

New Zealand:92 min | Argentina:92 min

Country:

Netherlands | New Zealand | Singapore

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

New Zealand:R13 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Australia:MA (2008) | USA:R | Malaysia:18PL | Argentina:18 | UK:18 (re-cut) | Netherlands:16 | Mexico:B | UK:18 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Daydream Productions

Movie Connections:

References Braveheart (1995)

Thoughtful horror that moves at a measured pace

I am guessing that a lot of the low ratings have more to do with the fact that this movie does not immediately start splattering the audience with buckets of blood and splitting your ears with crescendoing screams.

This movie is NOT following the normal Hollywood script. There's no "Oh yeah-there's the Monster" There's no parade of "Oh Yeah, the A-hole is gonna get it"

This is Horror from the Suspense side of the formula. It's a story of a Guy who does something wrong in the pursuit of his art. And something is unleashed in return. Consequences and collisions occur in the context of a different continent and its own cultures and messy histories.

No, it's not a DEEP movie, but it's an interesting departure from the usual fare. Nor is it a non-stop splatterfest.

Watch this when you're in the right mood-- somewhere in the middle where you just want a good movie to fill the time and give you a story from a different place besides Hollywood.