The main reason I saw this film was because I kept on hearing reviews saying that it was incredibly extreme horror, how people found it unbearable to watch, fainted during screenings, etc.
I thought, this is a film I must see, since I've not yet had to stop a film due to being grossed out or scared, or at least not in my adult life.
In fact it isn't really as hardcore as I had been led to believe. If you've seen films like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or even a recent mainstream horror film, then you're probably going to be able to handle this. It's just a bit more sadistic.
It's perhaps a shame that it has such a horror reputation. Judging by the video sleeve (girl with syringe), this looks like it's going to be a cheap gore-fest. Actually it's quite a classy film. The first three quarters build the tension very well, with a subtle script, good performances, and so on. It's an interesting movie, treading an unusual line between drama, thriller and horror, before eventually deciding to be an all out horror flick in the last quarter.
My main disappointment would be that I actually preferred the first parts of the film to the horror last parts. It's shaping up as a fascinating psychological thriller.
Asami's character is being developed into a very interesting one, who you feel sympathetic for at the same time as afraid of. The relationship between the hero (whos name I forget) and Asami is very well presented. It's a bit of a shame perhaps that in the end she is basically reduced to a psycho slasher, and the nuance is dumped as a result.
Definitely worth a look. I'll probably watch it again.
I thought, this is a film I must see, since I've not yet had to stop a film due to being grossed out or scared, or at least not in my adult life.
In fact it isn't really as hardcore as I had been led to believe. If you've seen films like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or even a recent mainstream horror film, then you're probably going to be able to handle this. It's just a bit more sadistic.
It's perhaps a shame that it has such a horror reputation. Judging by the video sleeve (girl with syringe), this looks like it's going to be a cheap gore-fest. Actually it's quite a classy film. The first three quarters build the tension very well, with a subtle script, good performances, and so on. It's an interesting movie, treading an unusual line between drama, thriller and horror, before eventually deciding to be an all out horror flick in the last quarter.
My main disappointment would be that I actually preferred the first parts of the film to the horror last parts. It's shaping up as a fascinating psychological thriller.
Asami's character is being developed into a very interesting one, who you feel sympathetic for at the same time as afraid of. The relationship between the hero (whos name I forget) and Asami is very well presented. It's a bit of a shame perhaps that in the end she is basically reduced to a psycho slasher, and the nuance is dumped as a result.
Definitely worth a look. I'll probably watch it again.