Kakashi

Norio Suruta (2001, Japan)

Cast: Maho Nonami, Kou Shibasaki Grace Ip, Shunsuke Matsuoka

Plot:
Kaoru is searching for her brother Tuyoshi, who dispeared. The only clue she has is a letter signed by Izumi, a childhood friend of Kaoru, that begs for her to visit in order to help her leave this nightmare. Going to the village where Izumi lives, she finds out that the inhabitants are not quite friendly and odd things are going on. Everybody seems to be obsessed with their kakashis (Japanese scarecrows). And soon she begins having nightmares..

Appreciation: 6/10
I was a bit disappointed by this one. It could have well been a great atmospheric movie, but the photography and script were so uneven that it sorta never lifted up. Some scenes work really well, very oppressive, reminding of a crossover of Tim Burton style and the Ring series (incidentally, the director made Ring 0: birthday), while other scenes are just plain ordinary, too ordinary I should say. And sometimes it’s just unintentionally funny, such as when the kakashis start waking up, I couldn’t help but wonder when Micheal Jackson’s Thriller music would start. It just didn’t work as it should have.
And the story, starting well, but losing its touch towards the end.. a disappointing end. Perhaps I expected something more eerie, more strangeness, more chilling, but the end came too quick and it just didn’t bring anything new or good, it didn’t make me feel anything. It was more or less a typical "run for your life" scenario we’ve all seen a zillion times.
There are still some very beautiful images in the movie but don’t expect to see them all movie long.
It's sad cause it could have been a truly great classic..

Other suggestions: Cure, any movie by Tim Burton, Hypnosis