(2004)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-AHN BYEONG-KI CAST-KIM GYU-RI, LEE SE-EUN, LEE YU-RI, and CHOI SEONG-MIN. SOURCE-BEAR ENTERTAINMENT (KOREA) R3 NTSC 2 SPECIAL EDITION.
The third and latest offering from Ahn Byeong-ki, who is also known for both NIGHTMARE (2000) and PHONE (2002). Both of which are heavily influenced by Hideo Nakata’s classic RINGU. Once again Byeong-ki goes back to that inspiration to bring us BUNSHINSABA or OUIJA BOARD. A Tale of a girl (Yoo-jin) who moves to a small village from Seoul. Right from the very start, her and two other girls are bullied on a daily basis. So, in a desperate attempt to escape the torment, she enlists the two classmate to join her in cursing those who bully them. In doing this, Yoo-jin starts to "bunshinsaba", which is where she begins to chant and develop a spiritual connection with an evil spirit to do her bidding. If you open your eyes while the spirit is in your presence, it will enter you and use you for it own bidding. Something Yoo-jin mistakeningly does. Still, they manage to place the curse upon their four classmates that have been pestering them. The next day, their curse has already taken it’s foothold on the first victim, making it look like a suicide with putting a plastic bag over the victims head, pouring lighter fluid on the bag and lighting it.
Eun-ju, like Yoo-jin is new to the school, and has just started teaching. Her first day’s role call becomes to the starting point of unveiling what might be the answer to curse’s beginning and ultimate rein. During her roll call, she calls out number 29 and a name that is not on the roll call sheet, but put there by the power of the curse. A name of a former student who attended the very same school 30 years before hand. A student who caused a whole town to become crazy with speculation and fear of yet another curse that was dredged by her. Meanwhile while the present day curse is gaining speed with claiming the other three victims, Yoo-jin begins to worry that her herself is in fact being used by the curse as the killer. Once again the small town’s past ghosts begin to weed themselves into the present as the witch hunt begins yet again.
Though director Ahn Byeong-ki once again dives into the annuals of RINGU, he limits himself more then in his previous films. He has expanded the idea of his ghostly images into a traditional folk tale that weeds itself into the present day. Without the uses of technologies like the television, video cameras or phones etc, for scare tactics. He instead replaces those with simple ideas that actually are as effective if not better then the others. Simply showing the ghosts in realtime, not for all to see, but only those directly involve with curse in one way or another. He has stripped down a trend in which many of these RING like films have depended on from the beginning, technology. He has simply simplified the curse itself, and presented in a manner that is more realistic to the naked eye of not only the viewer, but the characters as well. Choosing a small village or town was the best idea for a film of this nature to fly. Yes, the ghosts still reflect those of which have been over used over the past few years, but hey, if that’s the way the Japanese and Korean’s view the way they are or suppposively are like, then all the luck to them. They still reflect an image of creepiness that we in the western world only dream of. Byeong-ki's eye is keen to how a good horror film is to be shot as well, bringing in the right moments at the right time, and using the right camera angles and atmospheres to further this achievement. Though many Asian directors and films use camera tilts and 360 shots, Byeong-ki cut those all down, but doesn't stamp them out entirely, only when they are most effective.
Ahn Byeong-ki is smart in bringing in some of South Korea’s hottest young stars into BUNSHINSABA as well. None more then the very beautiful Kim Gyu-ri who plays school teacher Eun-ju. Beong-ki has employed her services before in his first film NIGHTMARE. You have also seen her in the popular Korean horror series, WHISPERING CORRIDORS. As with the addition of Kim Gyu-ri, he has also brought in the very young and very personable, Lee Se-eun who plays the lead of Yoo-jin. Together with another Byeong-ki regular, Choi Jeong-yun who was also in both NIGHTMARE and PHONE. All three actors as well as the rest of the cast put in great performances, especially after watching some of the behind the scenes and what some of them had to endure during shooting.
The two disc special edition from Bear Entertainment is yet another example of how much the Korean’s love to package their films. They simply don’t except the simple format of the single disc with a single cover, instead, it’s either two or three discs mounted with extras and incased in not one the snap case, but a special hard cover as well to slide it into. The specs are also a thing of beauty when it comes to Korean releases as well, at least where the film itself is concerned. Presented in DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 with the original in Korean naturally, both English and Korean subtitles are removable, but unless you know your Korean language of course you’ll leave the English on. The picture is yet another great example of the treatment these films go through, in a stunning wide-screen 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer. Crystal clear as in many of these new releases are, but I think Bear has to be my favorite of all out of the Korean release leaders.
The extras one again are filled to the brim, but with out flavor, meaning loads of them without any English options attached. Still, they are tons of fun to watch as they pretty much dissect everything about the film and more. Beginning with audio commentaries from the direct and cast members, which once again if you knew your Korean would love. The making of BUNSHINSABA itself runs for about 50-60 minutes in length. Tons of interviews as well. Plus, they also extent the making off into sections, stunts, promotion, delete scenes, different endings, poster shooting and so much more. Of course there’s the usual gallery, trailers and cast information as well. Even if you don’t understand it all, it’s all very much entertaining to watch and certainly the best option for this film as this time and probably ever. Even if there’s an R1 release, it probably wouldn’t even come close to the care that is taken in the Korean R3 release.
STORY-3 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-5 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-4.5 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-3.5 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD 4 BITCH SLAPS Discuss this DVD or film in our forum.
