I know, I know, it’s not Friday but I do like to try to get reviews out in a timely manner and since Shutter is coming out today(Tuesday the 15th) I figured I could just tweak the title graphic a bit and no one would notice….

Newlyweds Ben and Jane have just relocated to Japan for Ben’s photography assignment. On a rather deserted, dark stretch of road, Jane takes her eyes off the road long enough for a woman to appear in their path. Jane swerves but still runs over the woman and the car collides into a tree on the side of the road. As she loses consciousness, Jane sees the woman get up and crawl off the road. When they regain consciousness, neither Ben nor Jane see any sign of the girl.

Although Jane can’t shake the image of the girl, Ben dismisses it as an animal that she had mistaken for a person and eventually he convinces her to do the same. Slowly through ghostly images on the pictures that the couple take, Jane realizes that something is very wrong and that perhaps it was not an animal that they ran over. I will not give the whole plot because this is a review and not a synopsis.

I really enjoyed the acting in this one. Joshua Jackson and Rachael Taylor both had really strong performances that went a long way in overcoming a mediocre script. Their interactions felt very real and the reaction shots to the ghost went a long way in heightening the spooky factor that is essential for these types of movies. I felt Rachel had the stronger performance of the two but kudos to both.

The cinematography was good, and I really liked Masayuki Ochiai’s vision for the film. To me the best moment is during Jane’s first day in Japan, as she walks out on the crowded street and you can sense the overwhelmed feeling of being in a foreign country where you do not know the language. The camerawork really purveys a sense of being alone although surrounded by thousands of people. The cinematography also shines in scenes where the room is in pitch darkness, save for the intermittant strobe lights from Ben’s camera.

I liked the special effects in the film. The CGI was very well done and did not come across as cartooninsh or overly fake. The death scenes were good and the spirit had an unsettling mannerism in it’s movements.

The only part left to cover is the storyline. Unfortunately, this was also the only downside of the movie. It isn’t that it’s a bad storyline. My only issue with the film is that it just doesn’t bring anything new. Think Gothika, although I wish I would have viewed Shutter first as I enjoyed Shutter much more.

There are a lot of bonus features on this film. My favorite was the interview with Masayuki Ociai. He went into good detail regarding the origins of the long haired female ghosts in the Japanese culture. Ociai also did a good job in explaining the differences between the Western world’s ghosts and the Japanese ghost as far as their actions and purpose. I also highly recommend checking out the sneak preview of the new Alexander Aja movie, Mirrors which is a movie I am really looking forward to watching.

I liked Shutter and recommend it for those with a penchant for the JHorror remakes, I think it is the best one to hit the States since The Ring in 2002. The acting and effects are very good and although I did take points off for plot, at no time was I bored or disappointed in the movie. Go check this one out and the next time you are taking photos, perhaps you wil pay a little more attention to that small foglike spot in the background of your photo.

Bonus Features:
• Commentary with Production Executive Alex Sundell, Screenwriter Luke Dawson and actress Rachael Taylor
• A Cultural Divide
• The Director: Masayuki Ochiai
• A Conversation With Luke Dawson
• Create Your Own Phantom Photo
• The Hunt For The Haunt: Tools And Tips For Ghost Hunting
• Nine Deleted Scenes
• Alternate Ending: Mental Hospital
• A First Look At Mirrors Starring Kiefer Sutherland
Additional Blu Ray exclusive Bonus Featues:
• Fox Movie Channel Presents “In Character With Joshua Jackson” Featurette
• Japanese Spirit Photography Videos
• Three Additional Alternate Scenes

Shutter is available courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment beginning on July 15th.

To Switch for Shutter Unrated or to purchase it through Amazon.com, click
For the Unrated Version, click Here
For the Blu Ray Version, click Here