Film review
Jul. 17th, 2003 11:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ventaNo spoilers, unless you're very sensitive to what someone says about films before you see them :)
Dark Water
(aka "the film Hideo Nakata made after he made Ring")
Penny trotted round last night and brough me chocolate cookies in return for watching Dark Water. Apart from it being slightly odd to watch a horror film in the daylight, I rather enjoyed it.
Firstly, it's a very, very slow-burning film, almost to the point of being boring. However, this does mean that it racks up tension very nicely, and that things are made to have a lot more impact when they do happen.
Secondly, the slow camera work has the effect of making terribly mundane shots look creepy. It generates an overall atmosphere of "wrongness" even when it's not clear what it is that's wrong.
It's very carefully observed - sometimes a very small movement from a character conveys something. People's reactions are filmed in minute detail - Yoshimi (central adult character) in particular present an enormous amount of information just in her expressions. Or maybe I just watch more carefully, because I can't understand the dialogue ?
And - and I like this in a film - it doesn't attempt to explain the events. It just tells the story, and leaves you with it. The characters really should listen to the music, though :)
I do think a lot of people might find it too slow. But if you think it won't put you off, give it a go... (DVD available to borrow to anyone who can play region 3).
Thanks,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
addedentry for recommending it.
Dark Water
(aka "the film Hideo Nakata made after he made Ring")
Penny trotted round last night and brough me chocolate cookies in return for watching Dark Water. Apart from it being slightly odd to watch a horror film in the daylight, I rather enjoyed it.
Firstly, it's a very, very slow-burning film, almost to the point of being boring. However, this does mean that it racks up tension very nicely, and that things are made to have a lot more impact when they do happen.
Secondly, the slow camera work has the effect of making terribly mundane shots look creepy. It generates an overall atmosphere of "wrongness" even when it's not clear what it is that's wrong.
It's very carefully observed - sometimes a very small movement from a character conveys something. People's reactions are filmed in minute detail - Yoshimi (central adult character) in particular present an enormous amount of information just in her expressions. Or maybe I just watch more carefully, because I can't understand the dialogue ?
And - and I like this in a film - it doesn't attempt to explain the events. It just tells the story, and leaves you with it. The characters really should listen to the music, though :)
I do think a lot of people might find it too slow. But if you think it won't put you off, give it a go... (DVD available to borrow to anyone who can play region 3).
Thanks,
addedentry for recommending it.
