I saw this film at a Portuguese horror film festival (MOTELx) about a week ago. I didn't really know what to expect, since there weren't many reviews online, and we were prepared for the possibility of a bad film. Now, was the film really BAD? Not exactly. It wasn't the worst thing I've ever seen - although some parts weren't creepy enough or the acting wasn't on point. However, if you have seen horror films this is just a film with all the horror stories you've already seen. There isn't anything new, the situations aren't unexpected, the story is repeated, the ending is cliché and pretty much everything about this film has been done before. If you aren't an avid/casual horror film fan, or if you're starting horror films now, it might scare you, since you probably won't be used to the usual plot lines. But for someone like me (a casual viewer) or my friend (an avid horror film fan) it was just a pretty normal film, cliché and, to be honest, after a day or two we kind of forgot everything about it (well, not literally, but you get the point). The only thing that stuck with me for good reasons were the main actress' screams during a few particular scenes, which I thought were pretty on point. But, in general, even her acting was just okay. It's not a film I would recommend - even if it's not the worst thing I've seen.
5 Reviews
Aims towards fancy production but ends up cheap and unintentionally funny like soap opera
quincytheodore19 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Perhaps it's fitting that most of the movie is set on an opera drama with all of its glamour yet as the play fails so does the movie. This is a very simplistic and outdated attempt on horror, using trick from two decades ago. Granted, there might be a glint of terror in one or two scenes and the lead may be relatable but any glimmer of hope is all buried in plastic rigid stare and expressionless groan.
The story revolves around Sara, an inspiring actress and a cursed mannequin used as prop for the play. This ill-fated doll is seemingly haunted and everyone who comes in contact with it is hypnotized into dreadful outcome. At first Sara is quite likable, she's a nice girl who struggles in the business. However, her character soon falls into scream queen fiasco.
Its back story may have potential, but it's sloppily presented with sketchy explanation. Any horror is displayed from basic doll motion which is poorly edited to look horrifying, for example with the repetitive odd twitching eyes. This would barely work for retro horror flicks, and here it's pretty ridiculous to be honest. The doll is either looking extremely fake or obviously played by a person pretending to be a doll.
What's surprisingly is when things escalate and important moments come the actresses only have one frozen look of disbelief as though they are stepping on gum. It's odd since when they perform for on-screen play, they look more believable. Any momentum eventually becomes silly soap opera banters, and it really turns into a debacle towards the end.
"Ghost Theater" has a couple of foundations for colorful play, but sadly it only amounts to afternoon TV drama.
The story revolves around Sara, an inspiring actress and a cursed mannequin used as prop for the play. This ill-fated doll is seemingly haunted and everyone who comes in contact with it is hypnotized into dreadful outcome. At first Sara is quite likable, she's a nice girl who struggles in the business. However, her character soon falls into scream queen fiasco.
Its back story may have potential, but it's sloppily presented with sketchy explanation. Any horror is displayed from basic doll motion which is poorly edited to look horrifying, for example with the repetitive odd twitching eyes. This would barely work for retro horror flicks, and here it's pretty ridiculous to be honest. The doll is either looking extremely fake or obviously played by a person pretending to be a doll.
What's surprisingly is when things escalate and important moments come the actresses only have one frozen look of disbelief as though they are stepping on gum. It's odd since when they perform for on-screen play, they look more believable. Any momentum eventually becomes silly soap opera banters, and it really turns into a debacle towards the end.
"Ghost Theater" has a couple of foundations for colorful play, but sadly it only amounts to afternoon TV drama.
Fairly entertaining film that avoids jump scares and has a realistic mannequin
ebossert26 June 2016
While rehearsing for a stage play, the cast and crew are troubled by strange events that are connected to a mannequin. Hideo Nakata directs this soft re-imagining of his horror film "Ghost Actress" (1996), but this turned out to be a very different film. This is essentially a mannequin horror film, not a ghost film, which is always welcome in my book because the concept has an old school style. Some may criticize this style as being cheesy, but I enjoyed it and they avoided CGI in favor of practical effects.
The biggest flaw of this film is the storytelling structure, which is very predictable and incorporates plot points you see all the time in this genre. That does weigh the film down a bit and prevents it from being great. Acting is okay and the characters are on the bland side.
Fortunately, the mannequin element makes it worth watching. This is one of the most realistic looking mannequins I've ever seen. Scare tactics range from very good to mediocre, with some freaky scenes near the end. Not sure what some of the other reviewers on this site were watching, because there were only a few jump scares in this one - certainly far less than what you'd see in the "Insidious" franchise.
"Ghost Theater" is a pretty good flick.
The biggest flaw of this film is the storytelling structure, which is very predictable and incorporates plot points you see all the time in this genre. That does weigh the film down a bit and prevents it from being great. Acting is okay and the characters are on the bland side.
Fortunately, the mannequin element makes it worth watching. This is one of the most realistic looking mannequins I've ever seen. Scare tactics range from very good to mediocre, with some freaky scenes near the end. Not sure what some of the other reviewers on this site were watching, because there were only a few jump scares in this one - certainly far less than what you'd see in the "Insidious" franchise.
"Ghost Theater" is a pretty good flick.
Essentially just another generic Japanese ghost movie...
paul_haakonsen2 June 2020
Initially I was somewhat looking forward to sitting down to watch this 2015 Japanese horror movie from director Hideo Nakata. Sure, I had not heard about the movie, prior to getting to sit down and watch it in 2020, but it was a Japanese horror movie, and they usually have a tendency of being great.
So it was with some interest and expectation that I sat down to watch "Ghost Theater" (aka "Gekijô rei"). However, the movie wasn't overly thrilling, nor did it really offer much of anything new to the Japanese horror genre, especially the genre with ghosts.
"Ghost Theater" was just too generic and bland. Sure, if you are new to the Japanese horror genre, then you might find the movie quite good and suspenseful. But if you are a seasoned horror veteran and well-traversed in the Asian cinema, then "Ghost Theater" offers you very little.
Now, don't get me wrong. The movie is watchable and entertaining enough for what it turned out to be. I had just hoped for a bit more than just a run-of-the-mill ghost movie.
I will say that the doll aspect to the movie was good, but it could only do so much to salvage the rest of the movie.
The acting in the movie was adequate, but the performers didn't really have all that much of elaborate material to work with.
My rating of "Ghost Theater" is a mediocre five out of ten stars.
So it was with some interest and expectation that I sat down to watch "Ghost Theater" (aka "Gekijô rei"). However, the movie wasn't overly thrilling, nor did it really offer much of anything new to the Japanese horror genre, especially the genre with ghosts.
"Ghost Theater" was just too generic and bland. Sure, if you are new to the Japanese horror genre, then you might find the movie quite good and suspenseful. But if you are a seasoned horror veteran and well-traversed in the Asian cinema, then "Ghost Theater" offers you very little.
Now, don't get me wrong. The movie is watchable and entertaining enough for what it turned out to be. I had just hoped for a bit more than just a run-of-the-mill ghost movie.
I will say that the doll aspect to the movie was good, but it could only do so much to salvage the rest of the movie.
The acting in the movie was adequate, but the performers didn't really have all that much of elaborate material to work with.
My rating of "Ghost Theater" is a mediocre five out of ten stars.
Bad
noorsamara-916627 July 2023
Title: "Gekijo Rei" - An Underwhelming and Disappointing Experience
Rating: 1/10
Review:
"Gekijo Rei" left me utterly underwhelmed, deeply disappointed, and questioning the choices that led me to watch it. This movie, which promised excitement and thrilling moments, failed to deliver on every front.
To begin with, the plot was convoluted and poorly constructed. It attempted to blend multiple genres and narratives, resulting in a confusing mess of unnecessary subplots and unresolved storylines. Instead of engaging me, it left me frustrated and disconnected from the characters and their motivations.
The acting performances in "Gekijo Rei" were lackluster at best. The cast seemed disinterested and their performances lacked depth and conviction. It felt as though the actors were simply going through the motions, barely conveying any emotional connection with their characters. This ultimately made it hard for me to invest in the story or care about the outcome.
Furthermore, the cinematography and visual effects were far from impressive. The movie suffered from poor lighting, inconsistent camera work, and unconvincing CGI. It felt like a low-budget production that failed to capture the essence of the scenes or create an immersive visual experience.
The pacing of the movie was another significant issue. It felt slow and dragged out, without any substantial development to compensate for the lack of momentum. This resulted in a tedious viewing experience, where it felt like the story was going nowhere.
In terms of entertainment value, "Gekijo Rei" failed to deliver any thrills or captivating moments. The few attempts at action sequences were disjointed and poorly executed, lacking the intensity and excitement that was promised.
Overall, "Gekijo Rei" is a film that falls flat in almost every aspect. From a poorly constructed plot to subpar acting performances and lackluster visuals, it failed to engage or leave a lasting impression. I would not recommend "Gekijo Rei" to anyone seeking an enjoyable movie-watching experience, as it ultimately proved to be a disappointing and forgettable endeavor.
Rating: 1/10
Review:
"Gekijo Rei" left me utterly underwhelmed, deeply disappointed, and questioning the choices that led me to watch it. This movie, which promised excitement and thrilling moments, failed to deliver on every front.
To begin with, the plot was convoluted and poorly constructed. It attempted to blend multiple genres and narratives, resulting in a confusing mess of unnecessary subplots and unresolved storylines. Instead of engaging me, it left me frustrated and disconnected from the characters and their motivations.
The acting performances in "Gekijo Rei" were lackluster at best. The cast seemed disinterested and their performances lacked depth and conviction. It felt as though the actors were simply going through the motions, barely conveying any emotional connection with their characters. This ultimately made it hard for me to invest in the story or care about the outcome.
Furthermore, the cinematography and visual effects were far from impressive. The movie suffered from poor lighting, inconsistent camera work, and unconvincing CGI. It felt like a low-budget production that failed to capture the essence of the scenes or create an immersive visual experience.
The pacing of the movie was another significant issue. It felt slow and dragged out, without any substantial development to compensate for the lack of momentum. This resulted in a tedious viewing experience, where it felt like the story was going nowhere.
In terms of entertainment value, "Gekijo Rei" failed to deliver any thrills or captivating moments. The few attempts at action sequences were disjointed and poorly executed, lacking the intensity and excitement that was promised.
Overall, "Gekijo Rei" is a film that falls flat in almost every aspect. From a poorly constructed plot to subpar acting performances and lackluster visuals, it failed to engage or leave a lasting impression. I would not recommend "Gekijo Rei" to anyone seeking an enjoyable movie-watching experience, as it ultimately proved to be a disappointing and forgettable endeavor.
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