(2000)
Dir - Norio Tsuruta
Overall: MEH
The forth entry in the Ringu series, (not counting the 1995 television adaptation which was remade theatrically only three years later), Ring 0: Birthday, (Ringu Zero: Bāsudei, Ring-O: The Birthday), is an incredibly mood-heavy work that stumbles through its destination to link up to the other films in the franchise. This was the first proper full-length for director Norio Tsuruta, taking over for Hideo Nakata who declined to return as he had already been behind the lens for two of the previous installments. Screenwriter Hiroshi Takahashi stuck around though, adapting the "Lemon Heart" story from Koji Suzuki's Birthday anthology series. The most striking aspect here is Tsuruta's highly restrained approach to the material which is deliberately paced almost to fault where the narrative gets rather muddled due to scares that are barely noticeable, scaled-back performances, and a sparse musical score. Such a hypnotic, unassuming atmosphere is definitely refreshing, but oddly the movie becomes less interesting and more confusing as it tries to do its actual job which is adding a backstory to the vengeful Sadako Yamamura ghost. As is almost always the case, such supernatural aspects are more frightening when they are left ambiguous and the "clearing up loose ends" proponent here is sadly both unnecessary and unsatisfying.
(2001)
Dir - Oxide Pang/Pisut Praesangeam
Overall: MEH
A Thai, contemporary-set anthology film from Pisut Praesangeam and Pang brother Oxide, Bangkok Haunted has the misfortune of featuring three different segments that are both A) not interesting and B) too long. They are also told in sort of a back and forth manner, mixing flashbacks and the like somewhat unconvincingly which may cause a bit of confusion for those that are struggling to pay attention. The mere concept of three attractive women sitting in a bar telling ghost stories while critiquing each others endings is more silly than plausible and directors Pang and Praesangeam pile on equal amounts of softcore sleaze, icky gore, and persistent scary music that kick up the camp. Said ingredients can certainly make for something fun, sexy, and/or spooky in the right context, but there is not one single moment here that is likely to impress or even stick with an audience member. The B-movie production is passable at least, with the mostly attractive cast doing their best, CGI effects like some swirly, supernatural vapors and creepy specter makeup getting the job done, and some nasty close-ups of vomit and human organs to appease gore hounds.
(2004)
Dir - Yam Laranas
Overall: WOOF
The increased usage of jump scares in 21st century horror films may have its grand champion in Yam Laranas' Sigsaw, (The Echo internationally); a movie that inexplicably makes it a point to punctuate about ninety percent of its potentially "scary" scenes by the loudest noise humanly possible. In a way, such a tactic is almost impressive in its absolute stubbornness, which makes one wonder if the film could in fact be some sort of parody of the genre's most overused and obnoxious gimmick. The alternative to such a theory of course is that Laranas actually thought that placing deafening noise on the soundtrack only every forty-five seconds over the course of nearly two hours somehow would defy all sense and logic in making the movie not only watchable, but actually frightening. Worse yet, the script is hilariously monotonous with the same characters saying the same things to the same characters over and over again until the pathetic "twist" arrives in a dramatic exposition dump that makes said characters seem even more stupid for putting up with their current, (and it cannot be stressed enough), blarringly loud situation. In either event and whatever Laranas was smoking, the results represent something so persistently annoying that it should be avoided at all costs for anyone without a set of earplugs at their disposal.
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