A very unsettling, skillfully quiet little ghost story that creeps up on you exactly the way ghost stories are supposed to—slow and subtle, with a growing sense of unease, of something just below the surface (no pun intended).

There’s also a layer of very tense subtext. Japanese society, in general, holds some pretty rigid views on gender and family, and the implied condemnations of the female characters build throughout the film, adding their own disturbing element—even the movie itself is against the heroine.

Great atmosphere, great ending, great movie.

Creepy and suspenseful, it held my attention. The end was utterly depressing, but I’ve come to expect that from Japanese remakes. They lack the sugar-coating that American movies always employ, and while kind of a bummer, it’s also refreshing.

Although I haven’t yet seen the American remake of this film, I have to say that I loved watching this one! Lots of spookyness abound—and especially chilling if you believe in ghosts like I do! A classic J-horror flick! *