Modern horror at its best

Rating: Null/10 (16 September 2003)

After watching so many diabolical let-downs (House on Haunted Hill and Ghost Ship for a start!), it was so refreshing to finally find a modern horror film that is actually scary! Indeed, not only did I revert to a silly wimpy 7-year-old - sleeping in the lounge with the light on for 2 weeks - but I also found it impossible to stop thinking about this film!
This film worked very well for me, but I can understand why so many viewers thought it was poor. I saw this version before watching the Japanese one or reading the book. Indeed, neither film is very close to the book, which is a shame as I thought it was very good. However, after seeing the Western version and knowing what the concept was all about, I thought the Japanese version was dull, slow and an anti-climax, mainly because the film was so dark I couldn't see it and because the special effects were rubbish. Indeed, Rick Baker made a much better job, which, ultimately, saved the film from being a potential farce. However, had I seen the Japanese film first, I would probably be championing that instead!
The black-and-white film quality and eerie sound effects maintained suspense right through the film. My only complaint would be the decision to cast Dorfman as the "cute" kid, who looked more like the scary midget in "Don't Look Now"!
Action-packed from the start, intelligent and original with fine performances from Watts, Henderson (come a long way since Shortland Street!), and especially Cox, this is a masterpiece of modern horror.