UHM - Review

I've seen a few Japanese horror films in the past, but this one has a category of its own. Talk about an original plot. The film is very innovative and has some weird, creepy scenes in it. The beginning reminded me of a teen slasher, only without the slashing. The movie starts off with these two teen girls talking about the legend of a cursed tape. The legend goes like this... they say when you view the tape a woman appears saying that you will die. After viewing the tape you get a phone call, with someone on the other end saying the same thing. A week later, you die; pretty interesting stuff.

The whole deal with passing the tape along to another is a very cool idea. I mean, who ever heard of a haunted video tape? When I first read about it in Fangoria I knew that I had to see this film. I'm glad I did. One thing kind of disappointed me was the fact that it wasn't as "creepy" as many people set it out to be. I thought it was going to be really creepy, but it only had a few somewhat creepy scenes in it. That's not all too bad because the ending was worth it. In the film a reporter views the tape then tries to uncover the truth behind it. She gets her ex-husband to join in and he views the tape as well. That gives them about a week to find out where the tape came from and what's it about. The whole story behind the tape gets you hooked. The film basically gets you hooked from the start.

At one point we get to see what is actually on the tape. Talk about some weird crap. This film did so well that there's going to be an American version of it. I don’t know when it's coming out though. I'm guessing 2002 or 2003. I'd like to see how different it'll be. If anyone plans to see the American version, I recommend you check this version out first. I know I'll be comparing the films. There are two other sequels of this film, but I hear they suck. I have a copy of the second film, so I'll be reviewing that one later on.

OVERALL

Very cool Japanese horror flick; Has some weird, creepy moments and really makes ya think; Original story and excellent ending. I recommend this to all you horror fans out there that are tired of the same old American slashers.

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mike :

Posted 111 days ago

This movie got me into japenese horror the second is good not as creepy but a worthy sequal all the main actors return i still havnt seen ringu zero birthday dont see resin its very different than these

J Roark :

Posted 127 days ago

Choicing between this and the U.S. version, I have to go with this one. It had better acting and didn't feel as pointless as the american version. 8/10

mike :

Posted 191 days ago

This movie rules its creepy as all hell I loved this movie I also saw resin but it sucked I still havnt seen ringu 2 it got rating so i haft to see it

frightie :

Posted 268 days ago

This movie started my Asian horror flicks faze, which has sadly since faded now that I have less time to watch'em.

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