Ryeong
Director: Kim Tae-kyeong
Year: 2004
Rating: 7.0
Country: Korea
Aka - The Ghost
Aka - Dead Friend
After The Ring became such a worldwide hit
in 1998, there were baskets of long-haired female ghost films running around
all over Asia. It took a few years to run their course but eventually they
did. At the time the imitations became rather over done - oh no, not another
one. But some were better than others. The thing about a long-haired ghost
is that it doesn't take much more than a wig, some make-up, some jump scares
and a tragic backstory to make one. So a number of low budget ones made their
way to the screen. This film is from Korea which leaped into the well as
well. With the distance of years now since the period where they sprouted
like bad rumors, you can look at them with a fresh eye and I think this is
one of the better ones. Good story that parses out the narration and mystery
like a stingy grandfather handing out candy with a twist upon a twist, nice
performances, well-shot and a few very creepy scenes.
It begins with a few high school girls having
fun playing with a Ouija board trying to call forth a ghost. Maybe they did,
maybe they didn't. Still the lesson is don't fuck around with a Ouija board.
Jump ahead a few years and the girls are now in college. But something has
changed - something is wrong - Ji-won (Kim Ha-neul) lost her memory a few
years back and remembers nothing up to that point. Her friends ignore her
and shoot looks that could kill at her. She has no idea why. Something happened
but no one will tell what. Her father is dead and her mother a recluse. She
wants to leave it all behind her and start fresh in another city. But somethings
you can't leave behind. The past will always be waiting for you to remember.
One of the friends dies from drowning -
in a photo developing room, another in bed - the police don't seem to think
it is anything unusual. Then Ji-won starts seeing things - a little girl
in her locker, someone next to her in bed - and bit by bit she remembers.
All of the girls were horrible - nasty things - nasty to other girls - the
Mean Girls - Ji-won can't believe it - she is a different person now - but
the dead don't forget or forgive. And the twist is a beauty. And the twist
after that. Part ghost story, part the horrors of high school status and
trying to be popular, to fit in when no one wants you to.
