Epitaph is one of those films that can very easily disappoint you when you first watch it. Especially if you expect a Ringu type flick. True, it's beautiful visually, but the storytelling is so complex that it makes you feel that either the directors - and the writer- have lost control over their material, or that you're missing something crucial. Actually, the later is the key. Cause Epitaph is not just a creepy horror flick. It's a beautiful film about LOVE. Love through and beyond life and death. Love is the common theme that connects all those perplexed stories and scenes. Having that in mind, I decided to watch it again and I must say, this time I though I was watching a totally different movie. So, my suggestion to you is this. If you're looking for a clean K-horror flick with ghosts and all the classic Ringu themes, don't watch this one. You'll be very disappointed. However, if you're interested in something more that that, give Epitaph a chance. It may not be the best one out there, but it surely has quite a lot of things to tell you.
10 Reviews
Don't watch this expecting another Ringu
WingsOfWax9 May 2008
...But if you do watch it anyway, you won't be disappointed. Just don't expect an all-out horror film; there's lots of drama and love story in this one too. Yes, the story is a little jumbled because of its non-linearity, but if you have the patience, this movie is worth it.
Parts of this film reminded me of The Cell, which is not a bad thing at all. The surrealistic imagery is successful, and even though it was hard to follow, the stories were entertaining.
In conclusion, this movie requires patience, and it is a little hard to follow, but if you keep with it, the interesting story elements will entertain you.
7 from me.
Parts of this film reminded me of The Cell, which is not a bad thing at all. The surrealistic imagery is successful, and even though it was hard to follow, the stories were entertaining.
In conclusion, this movie requires patience, and it is a little hard to follow, but if you keep with it, the interesting story elements will entertain you.
7 from me.
Slightly too melodramatic
borgolarici23 February 2022
This movie is heavily structured (we have three subplots that revolves around different types of hauntings) but, imho, uselessly so. The three stories are pretty straightforward per se but the historical setting, the impeccable aesthetic and slow pacing give an impression of complexity. It is a good a movie but I felt slightly defrauded when it ended because the story was really just that.
Problematic stories kept afloat by gorgeous photography/art, performances and a solid undercurrent theme
refresh_daemon19 October 2008
Epitaph is a horror film from South Corea. While you could definitely call it an anthology, as it contains three separate stories, all the stories are set in the same place and time, a hospital in Seoul during the Japanese occupation. While, I have to admit that the film is remarkably photographed and has great art, design and production values, and it even manages to be far more coherent and interesting that most horror films, it falls short of its potential when it comes to the stories presented.
The first story deals with a young intern, a ward of the hospital director, who becomes mesmerized by a beautiful new corpse that arrives. This is perhaps the least traditional story and the one that doesn't have any significant weaknesses. Unfortunately, it also doesn't have a very strong point by itself--this character actually bookends the film and so you do get to see and understand a bit of the theme of the overall film through him, but it doesn't have a strong resonance. The second story deals with a young girl who is brought in from a terrible car accident that takes her parents and she's experiencing terrible visions or nightmares. This portion has probably the creepiest imagery of the bunch and perhaps the strongest acting (from the little girl who plays Asako). Unfortunately, the character motivations are a little melodramatic and the segment probably goes on further than it needs to. The last segment deals with an apparent serial murder of a Japanese soldier and a mystery revolving around a surgeon at the hospital. While this segment has one or two really great ideas and resultant gorgeous imagery, at the same time, the resolution of the conflict is done via a series of twists that might even make M. Night Shyamalan roll his eyes. I think if it had restrained itself, it would've actually been a much better story.
Fortunately, even though the stories are indeed separate and focus on separate characters at the hospital, one thing that the film has going for it is that it really does a good job of sticking to its central themes of love, death and loneliness. I found that the frights were present to some degree and I'm sure that less jaded viewers might actually find them terrifying. Even with three stories that suffer from their weaknesses, the film is buoyed by its gorgeous reproduction of an era in Corean history, its beautiful photography and generally sound acting. So, in the end, Epitaph does manage to be interesting and entertaining, despite its faults. And for that, I can recommend it to horror-movie fans and the more curious (or brave) viewers of cinema. Decent. 7/10.
The first story deals with a young intern, a ward of the hospital director, who becomes mesmerized by a beautiful new corpse that arrives. This is perhaps the least traditional story and the one that doesn't have any significant weaknesses. Unfortunately, it also doesn't have a very strong point by itself--this character actually bookends the film and so you do get to see and understand a bit of the theme of the overall film through him, but it doesn't have a strong resonance. The second story deals with a young girl who is brought in from a terrible car accident that takes her parents and she's experiencing terrible visions or nightmares. This portion has probably the creepiest imagery of the bunch and perhaps the strongest acting (from the little girl who plays Asako). Unfortunately, the character motivations are a little melodramatic and the segment probably goes on further than it needs to. The last segment deals with an apparent serial murder of a Japanese soldier and a mystery revolving around a surgeon at the hospital. While this segment has one or two really great ideas and resultant gorgeous imagery, at the same time, the resolution of the conflict is done via a series of twists that might even make M. Night Shyamalan roll his eyes. I think if it had restrained itself, it would've actually been a much better story.
Fortunately, even though the stories are indeed separate and focus on separate characters at the hospital, one thing that the film has going for it is that it really does a good job of sticking to its central themes of love, death and loneliness. I found that the frights were present to some degree and I'm sure that less jaded viewers might actually find them terrifying. Even with three stories that suffer from their weaknesses, the film is buoyed by its gorgeous reproduction of an era in Corean history, its beautiful photography and generally sound acting. So, in the end, Epitaph does manage to be interesting and entertaining, despite its faults. And for that, I can recommend it to horror-movie fans and the more curious (or brave) viewers of cinema. Decent. 7/10.
Beautiful, Intelligent Horror. A "Pretty Nightmare"
coolsavon-847-73875817 November 2013
I'd like to start off and say that this is a beautifully cinematic film. Even without the horror element, you can just admire this movie for what it is, simply beautiful. It does an amazing job at combining the horror element with the artistic shots. With both of these working together creates a truly terrifying experience that you can't take your eyes from. I like to call it a "pretty nightmare".
The movie will be very confusing if you're not paying attention because there are multiple stories happening at the same time(However, you'll most likely watch it twice). Each story seems to have its own twist that unfolds throughout the movie and finishes with a satisfying ending. This is definitely worth a watch. While it is not your typical horror movie, it is still very good and will scare you/creep you out.
The movie will be very confusing if you're not paying attention because there are multiple stories happening at the same time(However, you'll most likely watch it twice). Each story seems to have its own twist that unfolds throughout the movie and finishes with a satisfying ending. This is definitely worth a watch. While it is not your typical horror movie, it is still very good and will scare you/creep you out.
Tries too hard to be sophisticated
chrichtonsworld9 March 2008
What seemed like a promise and at least original turns out be dull and very confusing. Now you could say that it takes time to appreciate the story and the construction of this story. But i do think that if that is the case that the story has to be interesting and entertaining. "Epitaph" just isn't. Sure there are some creepy scenes and there seems to be some atmosphere that could have made this movie into a genuine horror classic. The problem is that the story (3 different stories) is not that complicated but because of it's construct doesn't make sense at all. Only if you have the patience to sit through the movie you will get some clarification at the end. What is the purpose of telling the story like this. Is there really more to it? Is there a depth never seen before in a movie? Answer:NO! It just tries hard to conceal it's flaws and in the process have the appearance of sophistication. And believe me that it is pretty flawed. I couldn't tell you if the actors are any good. There are only brief moments of conversations between characters that were conventional but not enough for me to care about any of the characters. Overall this horror isn't scary. And it doesn't offer drama that touches me or is a least bit interesting. Not for me!
South-Korean horror thats not to be missed!
gialli7 January 2008
Epitaph is an South-Korean horror film taking place on hospital in South-Korea year 1941.Its during world-war II and Japan occupation on Korea.Its more an mixed horror/love-story as the film has like 3 separate love- stories that at first seems a bit confusing but in the end make sense and linked together.Don't get me wrong the movie has some fine scares and is mostly an horror-film.The hospital look is creepy.I must say one of the best Asian films I ever seen.Its so very beautiful movie and nothing like I watched before from Asia.I also like the music-score that fit the film near perfect.Acting is very good.Not a very bloody and violent film, but it has some nice scenes of pure horror.Story is a bit hard to follow but anyhow its an excellent piece of film.Epitaph played on cinema in South-Korea Summer 2007 and its now out on DVD in S-Korea.Don't now if it was an box-office hit in S-Korea but it would surprise me if not as horror films are very popular over there.Not to be missed if you like Asian horror.I give the move 9/10
visually fascinating, sincere, intelligent horror
jds_revenge_redux9 February 2012
People that enjoy movies that sustain a horrific atmosphere and internal logic that allows "the suspension of disbelief" should give the 2007 Korean horror movie "Epitaph" ("Gidam") a chance. It is really good looking throughout and I thought the last minute or so was really great.
Even better, the visual effects have accessible meaning the way they do in some of the best Thai movies, aren't just eye candy or so obscure you'd have to be a film student to get them.
It has an irritatingly convoluted plot, but it does come together at the very end. I think the typically Asian sincerity more than makes up for the typically Asian convolution.
Even better, the visual effects have accessible meaning the way they do in some of the best Thai movies, aren't just eye candy or so obscure you'd have to be a film student to get them.
It has an irritatingly convoluted plot, but it does come together at the very end. I think the typically Asian sincerity more than makes up for the typically Asian convolution.
Egregiously misunderstood and underrated
ebeckstr-127 December 2021
One of the two or three most beautiful ghost story movies ever made, and probably the most complex. The 6.3 on IMDb is driven by people who don't seem to understand this movie.
A very general spoiler ahead.
It took three viewings, including two back-to-back on the same night, for me to really understand what was going on across the three interrelated stories which constitute the plot of this movie. I finally figured out that there are three types of ghost stories unfolding within Epitaph. One involves ghosts which are actually nightmares (as in dreams) brought on by guilt. Another involves ghosts which are schizophrenic delusions brought on by (seemingly literal) soul-crushing grief. And the third is an actual supernatural ghost story. This combination is brilliant, and I don't think any movie before or since has attempted anything like it.
As a movie, Epitaph is creepy in parts, scary in parts, and poignant throughout. It also consists of countless beautifully composed shots, accentuated by gorgeous lighting, imaginative editing, and a beautiful score (which twice includes a somewhat jarring if fitting Bernard Hermann homage). Thematically, it is steeped in grief, guilt, the human yearning for love and companionship, all set within a rich historical context.
I can't say enough about Epitaph. This movie is egregiously underrated and overlooked in world cinema, especially by ghost story aficionados. It should be at or near the very top of every list of best filmed ghost stories.
A very general spoiler ahead.
It took three viewings, including two back-to-back on the same night, for me to really understand what was going on across the three interrelated stories which constitute the plot of this movie. I finally figured out that there are three types of ghost stories unfolding within Epitaph. One involves ghosts which are actually nightmares (as in dreams) brought on by guilt. Another involves ghosts which are schizophrenic delusions brought on by (seemingly literal) soul-crushing grief. And the third is an actual supernatural ghost story. This combination is brilliant, and I don't think any movie before or since has attempted anything like it.
As a movie, Epitaph is creepy in parts, scary in parts, and poignant throughout. It also consists of countless beautifully composed shots, accentuated by gorgeous lighting, imaginative editing, and a beautiful score (which twice includes a somewhat jarring if fitting Bernard Hermann homage). Thematically, it is steeped in grief, guilt, the human yearning for love and companionship, all set within a rich historical context.
I can't say enough about Epitaph. This movie is egregiously underrated and overlooked in world cinema, especially by ghost story aficionados. It should be at or near the very top of every list of best filmed ghost stories.
Dramatic South Korean Horror that might be too slow
kannibalcorpsegrinder5 September 2022
After finding a photo album, a doctor looks back on his life which includes his time working in a hospital during WWII which involves the mysterious case of a young girl being tormented by ghosts among other incidents which set him off on a journey to stop the encounters from continuing.
This one has quite a lot to like with it. One of the better strengths here is an enjoyable storyline that offers a lot of intriguing elements. That there are several timelines at play with the setup in the present day setting up the storyline at the hospital in the past which sets this one going. The whole idea of the original hospital-set story going through the time period does allow it to tie into actual history quite nicely while that also leads into the series of storylines involving the romance between the doctor and the woman laying on the table he's tasked with working on. On top of this setup is the storyline about the strange deaths involving the soldiers that takes place around the entire hauntings-at-the-hospital setup that's at the center of the film. The ability of this one to keep these factors charging along in a cohesive manner provides a solid baseline here. The other nice factor here is the strong series of haunting scenes the few times we get them. The early encounters in the hospital showed off the haunted nature of the building with the ghost popping out of strange locations while letting the creepy look and make-up of the ghost generate solid thrills. Also quite effective are the quick ambush attacks of the serial killer going around knocking off the various soldiers which bring about the few bloody sequences that show up here. With the finale also bringing together the various storylines with the series of revelations and reveals coming into play, it ends on a high note that's just as enjoyable as the impressive technical qualities. Full of gorgeous cinematography and some wonderfully composed shots, especially within the hospital setting, which offers an overall impressive setup that has quite a lot to like. There are some flaws with the film that holds it back. The main factor against this one is the rather dull and plodding pace that takes forever for much to happen. As it winds through the series of intricately laid-out storylines and setups at the hospital, the overall impression taken here is one of a drama rather than a frenetic genre effort. Even taking into account a romance between several of the characters that result in a traumatic incident with the car crash or the struggle to keep the daughter alive following that incident drags the pace out even more. With so much of the film bringing up these outside elements in favor of doing more hauntings and creepy moments, that results in very little of this feeling decidedly creepy or chilling. Despite the enjoyment of the storylines at work, the film could've really used some more action to downplay the heavy focus on dramatics.
Rated Unrated/R: Violence and Language.
This one has quite a lot to like with it. One of the better strengths here is an enjoyable storyline that offers a lot of intriguing elements. That there are several timelines at play with the setup in the present day setting up the storyline at the hospital in the past which sets this one going. The whole idea of the original hospital-set story going through the time period does allow it to tie into actual history quite nicely while that also leads into the series of storylines involving the romance between the doctor and the woman laying on the table he's tasked with working on. On top of this setup is the storyline about the strange deaths involving the soldiers that takes place around the entire hauntings-at-the-hospital setup that's at the center of the film. The ability of this one to keep these factors charging along in a cohesive manner provides a solid baseline here. The other nice factor here is the strong series of haunting scenes the few times we get them. The early encounters in the hospital showed off the haunted nature of the building with the ghost popping out of strange locations while letting the creepy look and make-up of the ghost generate solid thrills. Also quite effective are the quick ambush attacks of the serial killer going around knocking off the various soldiers which bring about the few bloody sequences that show up here. With the finale also bringing together the various storylines with the series of revelations and reveals coming into play, it ends on a high note that's just as enjoyable as the impressive technical qualities. Full of gorgeous cinematography and some wonderfully composed shots, especially within the hospital setting, which offers an overall impressive setup that has quite a lot to like. There are some flaws with the film that holds it back. The main factor against this one is the rather dull and plodding pace that takes forever for much to happen. As it winds through the series of intricately laid-out storylines and setups at the hospital, the overall impression taken here is one of a drama rather than a frenetic genre effort. Even taking into account a romance between several of the characters that result in a traumatic incident with the car crash or the struggle to keep the daughter alive following that incident drags the pace out even more. With so much of the film bringing up these outside elements in favor of doing more hauntings and creepy moments, that results in very little of this feeling decidedly creepy or chilling. Despite the enjoyment of the storylines at work, the film could've really used some more action to downplay the heavy focus on dramatics.
Rated Unrated/R: Violence and Language.
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