November 2, 2012
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MOVIE REVIEW: A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
*NOTE: Know that I love scary movies but I also get scared easily watching them (which is why I like them) so if you don't scare easily it this may not mean a thing to you
GENRE: Korean J-Horror - Subtitled
SUMMARY: Sisters Su-Yi and Su-Yeon return home to the the Korean countryside to live with their father and step mother only to find the house is inhabited by something more evil than even their step mother...
REVIEW: As the highest grossing South Korean film of all time and the first to be screened in American theaters, I was expecting a lot and, for the most part, it did a good job delivering. It was a well done movie and scared the crap out of me, but it started out stronger than it finished. It was pretty well written but I think its strongest feature was the cinematography. I haven't watched a horror film where the camera shots were so frustrating and scary. For instance, they might use a zoom into a character's face where you start to feel your own personal space is being invaded or a shot that really confined your view down a hall when you just want to check it out (just let me see damn it!). I think that this kind of trick is really commonly used in horror films but I hadn't seen it used so well that I noticed before.
The setting was good too. They used the old Korean house well. That was one creepy location. I also think they picked up on what makes J-Horror great (creepy hair blocking shots of pale girls etc.) and utilized it really well without making it super over the top. Creepy gets me every time over slasher shocking (like most American films). I felt it had just the right touch of supernatural without running away with it. Acting was just good, but nothing to write home about. Still scared me even though it was light out when I watched it. I highly recommend watching it if you like horror like I do, but it isn't a life changer like I found The Ring to be (I was scarred for months!).
PLOT & WRITING: 7/10
ACTING: 6/10
DIRECTING & CINEMATOGRAPHY: 8.5/10
SCARE FACTOR: 8/10 (to give a gauge, "The Ring" and the unrated version of "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" were 10/10 for me personally)
OVERALL: 8/10