The main elements of Nightmare, such as the cinematography, score and acting all are above the standards. Plenty of well executed scenes drive this thriller into the likes of well documented Asian horror films like The Ring, Kairo and The Eye. It mixes up edge of the seat suspense with the supernatural, giving us a taste of what's to come from Ki's next project, The Phone. Acting was above convincing, especially the protrayal of the ghost of Kyung-ha. Very frighten, very surreal and do right scary at times. Also, very intense performance from the very beautiful Korean actress, Gyu-ri Kim who plays the lead of Hye-jin. Although, one can't help but to notice the heavily borrowed undertones of The Ring. Such aspects as Kyung-ha being very similar to that of the Ring's Sadako. By this I mean the dark clothing and the long black hair that hides her face. Don't let that detre you though, Nightmare has it's own feel and distinction.

There are several scenes that stand out that I wish to share with you. The first being the scene if which one of the girls is taking in a leisurely swim, when just about to get out she takes one more dip underwater. There waiting for her is a very dead looking Kyung-ha, lifeless and staring right at her under the water. It is a scene that will stick with you in a sense that her facial expression is one that would haunt your very nightmares, hense the title. Another scene that stuck with me is when another one of the girls is driving away in her car, the camera angles from behind as the car drives awhile you see a glimpse of Kyung-ha in the back window dropping down to hide. The next shot you find the very same girl in her shower, dead covered in blood as her throat is slashed. Again, that is one picture that will haunt your bad dreams.

The end of this film will defintely having thinking it over twice, meaning watching it again. At least that's how I felt about Nightmare, almost the same feeling I had when I first watch Hideo Nakata's The Ring.....I have to watch it again. Not in the sense that I didn't understand the film, or that I missed anything. Simply because Nightmare is a very entertaining film, it was able to hold my attention easily. It will defintely have me re-thinking my nightmares.

NOTE: Now the REGION ALL Hong Kong DVD in which I viewed this from is barebones, only carrying the trailer. It does however allow you to view the film in 5.1 even with the English subtitles on. The picture is very clear as is the sound. The subtitles are very easy to read, and as usual you can have only the English subtitles playing if you want.