Shutter (2004)

A young photographer and his girlfriend discover mysterious shadows in their photographs after a tragic accident. They soon learn that you can not escape your past.

Directors:

Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom

Writers:

Parkpoom Wongpoom (screenplay), Banjong Pisanthanakun (screenplay)

Stars:

Ananda Everingham, Natthaweeranuch Thongmee, Achita Sikamana

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ananda Everingham	...	Tun
Natthaweeranuch Thongmee	...	Jane
Achita Sikamana	...	Natre
Unnop Chanpaibool	...	Tonn
Titikarn Tongprasearth	...	Jim
Sivagorn Muttamara	...	Meng
Chachchaya Chalemphol	...	Tonn's Wife
Kachormsak Naruepatr	...	Tee
Apichart Chusakul	...	Magazine Editor (as Abhijati Jusakul)
Binn Kitchachonpong	...	Asst. Magazine Editor
Panitan Mavichak	...	Nuch
Samruay Jaratjaroonpong	...	Man 1
Jitlada Korsangvichal	...	Nurse 1
Duangporn Sontikhan	...	Nurse 2
Panu Puntoomsinchal	...	Groom

Storyline

A young photographer Thun and his girlfriend Jane discover mysterious shadows in their photographs after fleeing the scene of an accident. As they investigate the phenomenon, they find other photographs contain similar supernatural images, that Thun's best friends are being haunted as well, and Jane discovers that her boyfriend has not told her everything. It soon becomes clear that you can not escape your past.

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Plot Keywords:

photographer | photograph | car accident | ghost | thailand | 

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Taglines:

The most terrifying images are the ones that are real.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai

Release Date:

9 September 2004 (Thailand)

Also Known As:

Shutter: The Original

Filming Locations:

Thonburi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,989,456

Company Credits

Production Co:

GMM Pictures Co., Phenomena

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min 93 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Thee film was the biggest box-office hit in Thailand in 2004, and was also a hit in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brazil.

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Goofs

(at around 28 mins) When Tun and Jane visit the Spirit Photography Guy and are talking with him, the camera faces them and shows a sliver of the guy on the right side of the screen (this alternates). In one of those shots, his mouth is moving, but nothing is spoken.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Magazine Editor: Sometimes... spirits long for their loved ones.

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Crazy Credits

The producers would like to thank in advance the owners of any spirit photographs or photo representations that were not properly credited for their use in this motion picture.

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Connections

Referenced in Phobia (2008)

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Soundtracks

Win-Yan-Nai-Parp-Tai
Performed by Suthep Wonggamhang
Lyrics and Music by Vimol Chongvilai
Original master: Cathey Records (1968) Co., Ltd.

User Reviews

A horror movie that doesn't let go from the moment it begins

It's no big news that the horror industry has been in decline for the last 10 or so years. Western horror movies have all been dry-ed up and Hollywood is desperately remaking any Asian horror that has a 5 plus rating on IMDb. Because there people are still making good horror and of course Hollywood has to cash in on that. One such movie that will probably be remade in the next two years is "Shutter". Coming straight from Thailand this is not just good, it's fantastic, probably the most terrifying ride I had since I saw "In The Mouth Of Madness" a few years back. Grabs you by the hand from the first minute and never let's go until the end. The way horror is supposed to be.

"Shutter" follows a pretty standard formula in terms of plot. A photographer is haunted by the ghost of a woman and as the story unfolds we understand the reason why. Not the most original work, but it's solid in terms of writing and dialogue. The final conclusion is a very ironic yet satisfying experience, in touch with the atmosphere and tension build up to this point. Characters are likable enough so it get's very nerve-wrecking when they find themselves in danger. In fact it's safe to say that the entire movie is nerve-wrecking, psychologically painful and outright scary. This is all done with no small thanks to directors Pisanthanakun and Wongpoom through great camera-work, intimidating make-up effects and careful use of digital effects to enhance the horror elements. It is this careful balance that makes "Shutter" brilliant, it didn't allow itself to be dominated by CGI instead it used a combination of classic horror effects with modern computer generated ones. The atmosphere created is so wonderfully scary and that is no small feat to accomplish considering what is spewed from the U.S. these. Stuff like "Hostel" or "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (remake) that just pour down gore and think it creates horror. It does not, "Shutter" shows that you must have a certain amount of skill, understanding of the human psyche, what makes us tick, what makes us afraid and then exploit that. Bombarding us with only gore won't do the trick. Hopefully someone will learn that lesson once and for all. Another aspect that is worth noting is the score, once again brilliant stuff composed with a low key piano piece that greatly boosts the atmosphere.

Somewhere out there in Hollywood the cash-filled minds of screenwriters are "preparing" "Shutter" for remaking . They will try to make it "better" by casting some A-list overrated pop-idol celebrity. They will dumb it down to a PG-13 rating so that kids would go and see it. They will butcher the story entirely and in the end it will be turned into a shallow, tasteless film devoid of any sort of merit. Hopefully through that remake somewhere, someone will be able to discover the true "Shutter" a horror movie made with more love and devotion than all of those remakes combined.