Thursday, October 16, 2008

Ab-normal Beauty

(2004) ***½

Jiney is an art student. She witnesses a fatal car crash one day and impulsively snaps a picture of the dead woman. She feels strangely happy after seeing the picture and becomes totally obsessed with taking pictures of dead things. She confesses to her girlfriend Jas that she was molested by her cousin and his friends when she was a child. Her Mother never believed her and she has lived with the hurt & shame ever since. She thinks this may be the cause of her obsession with death.

She continues taking pictures and one day even witnesses a suicide . As the woman leapt from the building the crowd pulled back but Jiney stood fast snapping pictures of the woman's fall. Jiney keeps spiraling deeper and deeper into her own mental distress until she finally breaks. Jas helps her confront her past & her Mother so she can get past the traumatic experience from her childhood. Just when it feels like she's getting her life together she finds an envelope with pictures of a dead girl in her locker. She later receives a video tape marked only "Look at This" at her house. The video is of the girl in the pictures being brutally murdered. Is the video real or fake? Who sent it? What do they want with Jiney? How do they know about her recent obsession?

Nothing supernatural about this film, just a good solid story and very nice twist 3/4 of the way through. I thought it was great. There is a scene where Jin is basically toying with her own life hanging over a 10th floor balcony, it really shows the extent of her mental breakdown.

8 comments:

JPX said...

I've been meaning to watch this one, I'm glad it's good. I continue to be impresed with the pictures you use in your review. Do you get them all online or are you taking these images directly from the film? Either way you make a terrific presentation.

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Yeah, 'nother nice find Catfreeek. I hope I have time to catch this one this month. Oh who the hell am I kidding - I'll make the time.

JPX I remember the days when you were the one who discovered the latest and greatest J-horror flicks. Is it true that you're all washed up?

JPX said...

*nose in the air* I still have a few good ideas.

Catfreeek said...

JPX~I find all of the pictures online, I'm just a good hunter.

I like J-horror but I'm not bias either. I've seen quite a few Asian stinkers as well, just been real lucky with the last few.

JSP~If you haven't seen it, put a movie called Bio Zombie in your queue. It's an Asian zombie flick. It's not the greatest movie but it's a trip and I think you'll appreciate the humor of it.

Johnny Sweatpants said...

I think I saw Bio-Zombie but I'm not certain. Is that the rock and roll one? I do remember one fantastic Japanese zombie movie from a few years back but the name completely escapes me. Anyone? JPX?

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Too late! It was called Junk! Have you seen that one Catfreeek?

Catfreeek said...

I have seen Junk, that one is a trip. If you liked that then get bio zombie, they're trapped in a mall.

JPX said...

I have Bio Zombie, that one's just crazy!

Malevolent

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