:
Hitomi Kuroki,
Hitomi Kuroki,
Rio Kanno,
more...
:
Hideo Nakata,
Hideo Nakata
see all cast/crew...
: 
: A.D.V. Films
: Foreign, Horror, Japan, Ghosts, Asian Horror
: 100 min.
: English, Japanese
: English
see additional details...
|
|
Following up on his horror smash hits Ringu and Ringu 2, Hideo Nakata directs this supernatural psychological drama about a middle aged woman struggling to cling to her sanity. Yoshimi Matsubara (Hitomi Kuroki) is the midst of a nasty divorce with her thuggish, abusive husband over the custody of their five year old daughter Ikuko (Rio Kanno). In Japan's family court system, which is heavily weighted towards the mother, Yoshimi case would normally be a piece of cake. Unfortunately, Yoshimi has a history of mental imbalance as a result of her miserable, emotionally starved childhood. The transition from housewife to independent working woman has been stressful. She has moved into a fleabag of an apartment -- completely with a constantly leaking roof -- and has had little luck finding employment. Worse, Ikuko and then Yoshimi start seeing a creepy little girl dressed in yellow suddenly appearing in apartment. With a growing sense of dread, Yoshimi starts having outbursts not only in family court, but also at her daughter's kindergarten. When she slumps into a coma after the end of one such fit, she realizes what the girl in yellow is trying to communicate. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
|
| spooky and haunting
by mmmona
July 10, 2005 - 8:30 PM PDT
|
|
|
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
|
If you've seen Hideo Nakata's other films, you'll recognize some themes and may not be too surprised at the way things turn out. However, the movie still had good suspense and spookiness without being gory or resorting to cheap scares. Way better, more subtle and creative than most American horror films.
|
| No, really, it's good
by brakhage
June 17, 2005 - 3:36 PM PDT
|
|
|
3 out of 4 members found this review helpful
|
| I was very dubious about this film - how can a stain on the ceiling be scary? I was really impressed, as the movie succeeds not only as a horror film but also as a drama. You really feel for the woman and her daughter, trying to make a life for themselves on their own. The conclusion is emotionally wrenching as well as a fright. Could this be the best film of the J-horror new wave? |
|
|
GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.54)
82 Votes
add to list 
|
|
|
Your cart
mgeis
© 2006 All Media Guide, LLC. Portions of content provided by All Movie Guide®,
a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.