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Review #625 of 365
Movie Review of Shutter (2008) [PG-13] 85 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $8.50
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver West Village Stadium 12, Golden, CO
When Seen: 23 March 2008
Time: 1:15 pm
DVD Release Date: 15 July 2008 (click date to purchase or pre-order)
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
Soundtrack: Download now from 
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Directed by: Masayuki Ochiai (Kansen)
Written by: Luke Dawson (New York Stories) Based on the Thai horror film written and directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Joshua Jackson (Bobby) • Rachael Taylor (Transformers) • Megumi Okina (The Inugamis) • David Denman ("The Office") • John Hensley (Teeth) • Maya Hazen (Lucky You)
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Click to read the spoiler points for Shutter
In the continuing stream of remade Asian ghost story films, it was only a matter of time before a Thai film would join the list. The original Shutter was the 2004 film by Banjong Pisanthanakun. Sticking pretty well, at least with the premise, the Hollywood version, written by Luke Dawson and directed by Masayuki Ochiai, starts with a young couple (in this case newlywed New Yorkers Benjamin [Joshua Jackson] and Jane Shaw [Rachael Taylor]) relocating to Tokyo for his new job as a high fashion photographer. They are mixing their honeymoon with the move and plan to stay a few days in a rural resort with a stunning view of Mt. Fuji prior to moving into their new flat / studio apartment. While driving at night to the resort, Jane is startled when she believes she's just hit a woman crossing in the middle of the winding, forested road. She's shaken, but when they awaken in the ditch and contact the police, no one nor any body is ever found. She tries without much success to forget the incident while Ben wants to enjoy his new bride and the time off before he must plunge into his stressful new job. Ben's been recommended for the position by longtime buddies Bruno (David Denman) and Adam (John Hensley) who hold various positions of influence within their respective companies all headquartered in Tokyo. No sooner, of course, do Ben and Jane move in, however, then does Jane start to see visions of the woman she believes she hit and other strange things start to happen. Ghost images start to show up in many of Ben's photos, causing Jane to seek advice from a Japanese expert in spirit photography. When he sees the photos he freaks out and warns her that she is in potential danger. As is the case for now too many of these ghost stories, they rely too heavily on a now semi-predictable formula so much so that the 'big twists' are nearly always obvious. The twist in this one is a bit better concealed, though, perhaps affording a modicum more thrill than the others of the genre. The biggest thing that is no longer thrilling, however, is the over-reliance on the disbelief of the non-believers as a device to build both fear and tension. In the first one it worked sure, but by now, everyone knows that in these films, the ghosts are real and they are there for a purpose (usually to resolve unresolved murders). Therefore, when Ben acts like Jane's crazy and tries to persuade her that she's just seeing things, it cannot help but feel contrived. (see the
spoiler if you wish to skip the parsed language and just discover the twist) if you wish to skip the parsed language and just discover the twist)
Masayuki Ochiai has done a good job in using the setting and taking us into Tokyo in the daylight—so many films have used the locales at night, but here we get to see the bustling streets by day. The stunning cityscapes serve as a vibrant backdrop to the story helping to mask the evil lurking within. Either Luke Dawson's dialogue or Joshua Jackson's delivery of said dialog, however, fails to transport Mr. Jackson out of his trademark "Dawson's Creek" cadence. Therefore, he really does come across as a grown-up Pacey now living in Tokyo without Jen, Dawson, and Joey. Some people might not find that a bad thing. In any case, it is Rachael Taylor and Megumi (Megumi Okina) the ghost who stand out far more in this film as, really, it is Jane and her interactions with the ghost that provide both the mystery, chills, and twists that fuel the film's somewhat surprising end.
…a reasonably good mystery though practically predictable…superior to The Grudge…
Indeed, the film is more of a mystery than a ghost story or horror film. It's certainly only mildly scary especially given the depth of the genre now and the expectations therein. Rachael Taylor whom most will remember but not know why was the actress from Transformers who kept popping up because she was able to break the code. Here she comes across as better adjusted. She plays just sort of a normal girl hoping for a normal life and having no idea what she's just gotten herself into and not just a move to a foreign country with a language she neither speaks nor reads, and a culture to which she's only been exposed via Hollywood films, and a husband who's going to be working long shifts everyday leaving her without much to do. She portrays the character well. Megumi Okina plays the ghostly Megumi, and unlike so many nearly nameless faceless ghosts of these types of Grudge films, we get to know a lot more about her and her ties to the Shaws. She's on screen more, she turns out to have a past, and Ms Okina does a top-notch job of embodying the bodiless soul in a believable way. It's possible to feel the pain written all over her face.
In the end, Shutter's trailer with the awesome vibrational music probably resonates better than the film as a whole. Unfortunately, it's just not new or fresh enough to really captivate. It's a reasonably good mystery though practically predictable to the final frame keeping in mind the clues are all there on the wall and a theme of "you don't always get what you bargained for". If you were new to the genre, this wouldn't be a bad movie to start with. In a lot of ways, it's superior to The Grudge and its spawn even if it seems like it's also spawn.
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Cast Members
Joshua Jackson • Rachael Taylor • Megumi Okina
David Denman • John Hensley • Maya Hazen
Director
Masayuki Ochiai
Writer
Luke DawsonDVD
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Original Film
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Review-lite
Shutter (2008) [max of 150 words]
Banjong Pisanthanakun made the original Thai version of Shutter. The Hollywood version, written by Luke Dawson and directed by Masayuki Ochiai, starts with newlyweds Benjamin (Joshua Jackson) and Jane Shaw (Rachael Taylor) relocating to Tokyo for his new job as a photographer. While driving at night in rural Japan on their Honeymoon, Jane is startled when she believes she's just hit a woman crossing in the middle of road. No one nor any body is ever found; however, then, Jane sees visions of the woman she believes she hit and ghostly images show up in Ben's photos. The twist is a bit better concealed, though, perhaps affording a modicum more thrill than the others of the genre. In the end, Shutter's trailer with the awesome vibrational music probably resonates better than the film as a whole. Unfortunately, it's just not new or fresh enough to really captivate.
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1 comment:
Josh's character Ben was not at all
like Pacey. Pacey wouldn't use a girl, pacey wouldn't yell at his girlfriend, pacey wouldn't try and kill himself. There was nothing "Pacey" about ben anyways.
His wife happens to be a blonde and a non Joey.
Can anybody explain to me what was so Pacey about ben anyways besides those who can't see past Pacey in any of Josh's role?
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