Dorkgasm Gonzo Is God

Shutter A DVD Review By Kenneth Holm Senior Staff Writer             Back in 2004, there was a film from Thailand set loose upon an unsuspecting populace. The film dealt with the world of “spirit photography”, and what it could actually be. Then, in 2008, the American public got a tepid remake of the film that originally shocked audiences worldwide, and there was no rejoicing. Even fans of Joshua Jackson were saddened. However, thanks go to the wonderful folks from Tartan Video for their “Asia Extreme” series, which finally brought the much-heralded original to American shores. Now, maybe the rest of us can see what all of the fuss was about, eh?             Shutter starts out with a group of friends enjoying a wedding. Everyone is talking and having a good old time. However, on the way home, Tun (Ananda Everingham) and Jane (Natthaweeranuch Thongmee) hit a bit of a rough spot in the road. Oh, by “rough spot”, I mean they hit a girl with their car. Jane, who is driving at the time, says they should stick around and help her out. Tun is not having it, however. Sooner than you can say “I know what you did last summer in Thailand”, they take off, leaving behind a young woman who has just been made road pizza by their vehicle.             Soon Tun, who is a professional photographer, begins to notice various shadows and other ethereal objects popping up in his pictures. He cannot take a single picture without it being mucked up. Jane begins to think it might have had something to do with the girl she hit, but it is actually quite deeper, and older, than that. Jane and Tun are quickly caught up in a web of lies and revenge that they will not be able to escape from. As friends of Tun begin dropping off, though, Jane begins to suspect that Tun has more to do with it than he has let on. To tell you anymore would make you confused and less interested in the movie, so I will leave off here.             Did I like the movie? Absolutely. I definitely have a thing for the scares and psychological nature of most Asian horror films. This film is successful because it does not go for the easy scares. Sure, there are a few “jump scares” in the film, but there almost has to be at this stage. The best aspect of this movie is that it takes the time to set up a wonderful story and truly get under your skin. Like Kairo (Pulse) and Ju-On (The Grudge) before it, this movie succeeded in most every market it touched because spirits are an integral part of many cultures. Unfortunately, our culture kind of sucks, so we get beat over the head with gore and jump scares. Almost every single Asian horror movie I have seen is much more atmospheric and subtly terrifying, and Shutter is no exception.             The acting is on par with most of the other horror films I have seen. I am sure it translates wonderfully with people who speak the native language, but it sometimes seems to be woefully overstated to me. The translation is fantastic, and Tartan has put together a magnificent presentation. Extras include a translated interview with the director and cast, the original trailer (which is cut together much better than ours here), and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie. Are they necessary? I really don't think so. The movie is unsettling enough by itself and the extras are just the icing on the cake.             Overall, I cannot think of a reason to steer you away from this one. While it is filled with horror elements, and even a bit of comedy, it still does not reach the heady level of involvement that Kairo demanded. What does that even mean? It's a movie that you do not necessarily have to really think about. It does not make too many demands of the viewers, and that is not a bad thing. Sometimes, movies can take themselves too seriously, and this one does just fine. I recommend this for a cold, rainy night alone or a fun time with friends. This is really good if you know someone who just cannot deal with scary things. Isn't that right, boss?