Countdown to Halloween: October 23, 2011
Source: Netflix Instant Play
I just love Asian horror. I think it has something to do with how rooted a lot of Asian cultures are in their history and in folklore. This film centered around the Chinese belief that during the Seventh Month, the gates of hell are open and ghosts, including spirits of ancestors, come back to visit. They must appease these spirits by preparing ritualistic, elaborate meals with empty places at the table for the dead, burning incense, and making sacrifices by burning paper. Without these customs, this movie would have no footing.
The cover bills it as a mix of The Sixth Sense and Ju-On and that description was dead on point. It took the best parts of The Sixth Sense and the best parts of Ju-On and mashed them together. As usual, the scares are subtle and even creepier for it. The story held me, and the imagery was (no pun intended) haunting. I feel a little uneasy still thinking about the last scene.
Just loved this.
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