WHISPERING CORRIDORS is a pretty interesting South Korean ghost story, set in a girl's school haunted by the spirit of a dead student. Released in the same year as RING, the Japanese hit that was to inspire dozens of derivative knock offs, its pleasing to see that this film avoids the clichés for the most part. There's no long-haired, white-faced girl ghost here, just a melancholy spirit with a knack for bumping off brutal teachers in increasingly violent ways.
The film is full of atmosphere. Indeed, the story is stretched out almost to breaking point, and the pacing extremely slow – especially around the midsection. The eerie atmosphere keeps you watching, along with an effective soundtrack full of those low, almost distorted notes (also used in RING) that instantly send a shudder down the spine. The low budget here is evident, and some of the performances are a little rough around the edges, but there was nothing that stopped me enjoying this.
Even the 'Hollywood style' stalk-and-slash moments are well portrayed, especially an extended showdown between cruel teacher Mad Dog and the unseen spirit. Things get a little muddled at the climax – as they do in so many of these films – where twist comes upon twist in a short space of time. Personally, I would have preferred the surprises to be more spread out, but nonetheless the denouement impresses. This isn't grandstanding horror, and indeed it's not a film that I'll rush to watch again. But as an example of Asian horror, you could do a lot worse. A sequel, MEMENTO MORI, followed.
The film is full of atmosphere. Indeed, the story is stretched out almost to breaking point, and the pacing extremely slow – especially around the midsection. The eerie atmosphere keeps you watching, along with an effective soundtrack full of those low, almost distorted notes (also used in RING) that instantly send a shudder down the spine. The low budget here is evident, and some of the performances are a little rough around the edges, but there was nothing that stopped me enjoying this.
Even the 'Hollywood style' stalk-and-slash moments are well portrayed, especially an extended showdown between cruel teacher Mad Dog and the unseen spirit. Things get a little muddled at the climax – as they do in so many of these films – where twist comes upon twist in a short space of time. Personally, I would have preferred the surprises to be more spread out, but nonetheless the denouement impresses. This isn't grandstanding horror, and indeed it's not a film that I'll rush to watch again. But as an example of Asian horror, you could do a lot worse. A sequel, MEMENTO MORI, followed.