Shutter (2008/I)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Masayuki Ochiai

Writer (WGA):

Luke Dawson (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 March 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The most terrifying images are the ones that are real.

Plot:

A newly married couple discovers disturbing, ghostly images in photographs they develop after a tragic accident. Fearing the manifestations may be connected, they investigate and learn that some mysteries are better left unsolved.

Plot Keywords:

Japan | Car Accident | Photograph | Death | Spirit

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 15

8:00 AM

MAX

Cast

Joshua Jackson	...	Benjamin Shaw
Rachael Taylor	...	Jane Shaw
Megumi Okina	...	Megumi Tanaka
David Denman	...	Bruno
John Hensley	...	Adam
Maya Hazen	...	Seiko Nakamura
James Kyson Lee	...	Ritsuo
Yoshiko Miyazaki	...	Akiko
Kei Yamamoto	...	Murase
Daisy Betts	...	Natasha
Adrienne Pickering	...	Megan
Pascal Morineau	...	Wedding Photographer
Masaki Ota	...	Police Officer #1
Heideru Tatsuo	...	Police Officer #2
Eri Otoguro	...	Yoko

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for terror, disturbing images, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

85 min | USA:90 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:16 | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43974) | UK:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Sweden:15 | Germany:16 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Italy:VM14 | Ireland:15 (video rating) | Netherlands:16 | South Africa:16LV | Hong Kong:IIB

Filming Locations:

Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

Not screened for critics.

Goofs:

Continuity: It is raining when Ben and Jane drive down the road. When they hit the ghost, the scene fades to black. When the scene fades back in, it's snowing heavily, and a thick sheet of snow covers the ground. They start talking as they get out of the car, and the snow stops.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Shutter (2004/II)

Soundtrack:

Seventy-Seven

PERFECT! for our image of American youth...

I think this movie shows exactly how Hollywood sees America's youth. Compelled by fashionably dressed model women, sometimes half naked, bright colors, spooky images and scenes that are only there to make you jump. Oh... and I forgot, no brains. They think you're all idiots so they give you this cliché garbage.

Skinny attractive woman who couldn't act if it were cursed on her, walks around always looking fresh and dumb in designer clothes. This movie is about as intelligent as a log. Everything seems forced and none of it is original or done in a compelling way. I have to wonder if English was the native language of the director since most of the dialog is unacceptably terrible. Many times I cringed or laughed at things that I knew weren't meant to have that kind of reaction.

Poorly paced, poorly written, poorly acted, the effects are okay. I haven't seen the original, but conceptually, this movie could have been great if it were done the right way. Unfortunately, it was not. F-