[Retribution]
Plot:A detective investigates a series of murders. A possible serial killer might be on a rampage, since they all are in the same vicinity and by the same method, but as the evidence points toward the detective as the prime suspect, a ghost in red follows him, and he begins to question his identity. His realization of what seems to have really happened results in something much more sinister and larger in scope and leaves his psyche scarred.

Cast:Kôji Yakusho, Manami Konishi, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Riona Hazuki, Jô Odagiri, Ryo Kase, Hiroyuki Hirayama, Kaoru Okunuki, Ikuji Nakamura, Hironobu Nomura.

My Thoughts:The standard asian horror movie, just lacking scares.

Review:I'm starting to think asian horror is slowing down a tad bit. A few of the recent releases have simply not been that good, and like the problem we're having here in america with each new horror release - mirroring a release, or a few releases which came before it...asian horror movies with each new release, are starting to mimic each other as well. "Retribution" (Sakebi), is one of the latest asian horror releases to find it's way to our shores. From Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Kairo:Pulse), the film follows a detective who is investigating a series of bizarre deaths. Despite his will to do his job, and catch the killer...it becomes alot more difficult when all of the evidence begins to point to him as the prime suspect.

To add to and to further complicate matters...a strage ghostly woman in a red dress begins tailing the detective. "Retribution" is the first asian horror film I have seen that relies more on total weirdness instead of scares, and a logical plot to get it's point across. This movie simply tries to creep out, and weird out the viewer, instead of genuinely scaring him or her. It's usage of dark, gloomy settings...and that gritty tone that almost every cop-drama has, is where it tries to make it's mark. But these things, without an intriguing story, and any real intense sequences...are all for naught.

The atmosphere of "Retribution' fits a "Saw" movie perfectly, with many of the scenes in the film taking place near a waterfront district, or inside darkened areas such as warehouses, and lower business districts. It's just too bad that the pic didn't bring along any of the thrilling action that the "Saw" movies are well-known for. While the story is effective in creating an eerie, and unsettling mood for the viewer, this is never fully exploited by director/writer Kurosawa. Instead...it's shilled out for alot of dialogue, and scenes where things go "bump" in the dark. A scare-device which I came to despise three years ago when "Boogeyman" was released.

Trading what could be real, genuine scares, for cheap thrills such as loud noises, and creepy echoes in long dark corridors or abandoned buildings...never a good thing. The mysterious woman in red, played by Riona Hazuki isn't even capabale of saving this movie. Mostly because her appearance comes so late in the movie, that she really isn't that big a part of the overall story, and one has to wonder why she's even really included in the synopsis at all. While she is a creepy sight to look at, she fails to deliver any true scares to a film which is lacking real fright-scenes, and is in dire need of something genuinely scary.

She does however manage to complicate, and yet at the same time...tie up a few loose-story-ends with her limited screentime in "Retribution". The ending of the movie doesn't hold any real impact, and for the most part plays out like what came before it. Boring, uninspiring, and extremely flawed. Maybe I've become spoiled by asian horror films that go out of their way to scare the audience with creepy-black-haired girls, contorting bodies, and lots of blood and gore. Which is why I might've disliked "Retribution" so much.

I however do not think that was the case. "Retribution" simply failed to make the grade, looking more like an american U.S.A. made ghost story, with it's lack of real terror, and unenergetic story, instead of resembling an asian ghost story which usually manages to deliver a few good freak-out moments even without using alot of blood and gruesome sequences. The movie was quite a disappointment coming from the director of the original "Pulse". While Kurosawa's penchant for creating an eerie atmosphere in a horror film shined brightly in "Retribution"...his penchant for making a film genuinely scary did not.

Positives:Very atmospheric from a dark and depressing standpoint, the woman in red manages to be atleast a little creepy in her limited role in the movie.

Negatives:Boring story, not enough of the woman in red, too much dialogue which overlaps any real opportunities for genuine terror.

Overall:Disappointing.





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