Premonition (2004)

Extry! Extry! Read all about it! Oh... Sorry buddy...

Genre: Horror Thriller (Japan)

Starring: Hiroshi Mikami, Noriko Yamamoto (Ju-on: The Grudge 2)

Directed By: Norio Tsuruta

Overview: Based on the manga story called The Newspaper of Terror, this tells the tale of a man who is haunted by a newspaper article that predicts people's deaths.

Acting: The acting is certainly not this director's forte. It's quite obvious that Japan is afflicted by melodrama, but with such trendsetters as Korusawa, I suppose I can only blame a little. This director started doing straight to video stuff, and now he's moving up to international status. I think this will be a good stepping stone for him, but he needs a bit more experience. Maybe someone will give him a real budget next time.
Rating: 6

Cinematography: Visually, this movie has a few effects flaws. The CGI is far too low budget for the explosions, the paper, the blood and gore stuff, everything actually, but I got over it. The angles and the camerawork on the other hand had some good work behind them and you could tell they were well storyboarded. Professional, but knowing the weakness in the CGI, they should have stepped away from so much of it
Rating: 7

Script: In hindsight, nothing stood out as being particularly well written. I bet there was a lot lost in translation. Given the budget, I don't think they got the most poetic and refined crew of wordsmiths. I'll tell you though, the story's angle of the dilemma was a good route to take. Enjoyable.
Rating: 7

Plot: Man reads future, doesn't stop it, tragedy strikes. Man starts seeing premonitions all over the place. The plot centers itself around the question 'Is this future changeable, and if so what are the repercussions?' Sure, it starts a little slow and develops more at the pace of a thriller, but there's a point at which this movie completely redeems itself: the climax is nice and deep. A very original dark reckoning of the soul.
Rating: 8

Mood: With a look imitative of Ringu (The Ring) the dark, haunting feel of this film is pretty immersive. The fact that the paper itself is a mystery as to whether it's good or bad is a nice touch, and the music and lens filter effects enhance the feel perfectly. As for that climax, it really sucks you in and keeps you there.
Rating: 8

After all this time hoping to save his daughter and when she asks for cold cream, does he have it? No!

Overall Rating: 72% (I Predicted As Much)

Aftertaste: This is one of those movies that I watch BETWEEN movies. You know when you're vegging at a friend's house and "American Idol" is on? Right. Like that except better. I woke up and turned TMN on Demand on and started watching the movie before work, then watched the rest when I got home. One of those short films that you don't feel too bad knowing it's not going to be great, but you watch anyways just to see how that little part of the film world is going. Free movies are guiltless, might as well enjoy them.