REVIEW: Ghost Mansion (2021)
A Horror Anthology? Oh No... and It's Korean? Oh no!! Oh yes..!
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If you know me, you know I hate anthology movies. Short horror tales that are over before they even get started. Boring. There has only even been two good anthology movies - Kwaidan and Three Extremes.
This movie isn’t at that level, but honestly it’s not too bad either.
PLOT
A young webtoon author interviews a man who is the caretaker of a seemingly abandoned apartment block once owned by a religious cult. There is a rumour that the block is haunted, and he wants to know about any spooky incidents that have occurred
He tells him four tales and a mysterious fifth one that he needs to experience for himself. These tales include an author who experiences issues with the children living in level below, a pharmacist whose lover is acting erratically, a real estate agent whose sex doll comes to live and a young man who visits his high school friend who lives in a very mouldy apartment.
He uses these stories to write a new webtoon, however his thirst for more stories leads him to the fifth tale where the truth of the apartment block is revealed to him.
TALKING POINTS
This is one of the better modern horror anthologies movies I have seen from any Asian country.
Unfortunately it’s not full-on horror, but it is still pretty creepy. Some stories finish before anything super spooky even happens.
It’s very typically Korean. The whole cast is pretty, and the acting is solid. The presentation is glitzy and it’s an all-round professional little package.
Its clever how all the stories tied together, with different characters making an appearance in other tales. It gives off a real sense that there are people living in the block.
The fourth story actually made me feel very sick. It’s a story whose component is built around mould, and it’s everywhere, including the fridge, walls and on the food! Yuck!
I did like the ending and how it all tied everything together, and explains it all to the audience, leaving you satisfied that you didn’t miss anything.
What are my overall thoughts?
3 out of 5. Misses a point because stories don’t go far enough, and it leaves a little bit on the table that should have made it into the film!
If you’ve seen this movie, what did you think?
Genre Thriller
Director Benny Lau
Starring Kevin Cheng, Dada Chan
Original Title 焚情
Country of Origin Hong Kong
Release Date 30 June 2022