AZN flicks part II

Ok, so next is Shutter..a very much under-exposed (no pun intended) film which is the surprise package I intend to talk about in detail.

The film starts as your standard ghost story, a person dies early on, and only reveals herself to the initiators of her fate thru photos (hence the title). But this film is so.. so much more, with a twist I would argue bigger than that of the aforementioned flick and even the much acclaimed Sixth Sense!

Nate n I began watching this film, joking around with what was presented to us as we would any horror, but our comments steadily turned towards plot developments and the dilemmas each of the characters faced. We were indeed getting sucked in~! How did this happen?...

Without introduction, the director manages to purvey realistic, three dimensional characters through the believable choices they make - refreshing for the horror genre. The viewer finds themselves on a journey alongside the protagonists, allowing the subtlety of each performance to shine as we can associate.. we're in there riding with them!, working out this mystery as we go. Now as our minds get pre-occupied in the mystery (and the girlfriend.. who is a dead-set babe might I add), unbeknown to us, a couple of big scares are on their way. Now I'm happy if I jump once in a horror film.. I think I was rewarded with 3 or 4 genuine scares here and many more minor ones. And I was dirty on the director at one stage for making me jump solely through the use of the soundtrack without any visual to back it up! wtf~! how'd he get away with it? Anyway, he did. So needless to say, this film isn't out of the Sam Raimi book of horror. The stunt was two-pronged in that it also set a tone as the viewer reluctantly fears anything may lie round the corner with formulaic familiarity now out the window.. we become introduced to the unknown, which heightens the tension no-end! At another tense point in the film, my dog burst through the door as he has done many times.. but on this occasion he scared the bejesus out of me! That's when I realised I was watching no ordinary horror.

For the attentive viewer, it's possible to work out the mammoth twist with the clues provided, you'll at least get some way there before (towards the end) you are shown the signs in rapid succession in flashback form. The direction here is brilliant as I was able to piece it all together at the exact point of the twist being revealed.. Nate got it seconds earlier, and as he fumbled for the remote and the pause button to exclaim this, I put it together as well with the help of some more flashback shots.. dirty all the while that I couldn't put it together sooner. So we're given two chances at working this thing out, a satisfying way to tell the story and a technique I'd urge every screenplay writer of the mystery genre to use.

It's sad that 99% of film goers won't ever see this flick cuz it's foreign and contains subtitles, but it's number one for mine as far as horrors go. The American remake did get more of an audience, but of course they fuct the film up in the process. The Asian film experience is always a more sensual affair and pays much more attention to the emotional journey without talking down to its audience. Couple this with a rip-roaring story, and you get a kick-ass film such as 'Shutter'. Too bad the critics write off the Thai movie industry, indeed there are many shockers. But there are also some gems. Many Thai's believe believe their ghost fables to be based in truth which may be what gives them an unparalleled sense of authenticity. I dunno.. but Shutter draws from this rich pedigree of the likes of 'Nang Nak' and beyond, holding it's head up high (I laugh as I write this.. watch the film and you'll understand ;) and you'll also no doubt concur that 'Shutter' ..is one such gem!