Director: Manabu Asô
Year: 2006
Country: Japan
Alternate Titles: Chakushin ari final
Genre: Ghosts
Plot:
After going on a school trip, Japanese students arrive in South Korea find themselves subjected to a curse similar to an urban legend back home involving deathly phone calls emanating from a former student they bullied relentlessly and must find a way to stop it from spreading to others on the trip with them.
Review:
Overall, this one does a solid job of ending the franchise on a high note. As has been the case previously, this one gets a lot to like from the ghostly exploits and interactions which drive the film along. The initial discovery of the cursed photos on their phone showing them looking over photos taken of themselves hung up provides a great starting part to the creepiness that follows their trip. As the students start slowly disappearing during their trip, there’s some fun to be had with the discovery of their bodies being found in similar situations to the calls they received earlier, making the prophecy self-fulfilling in creepy manners. From the lavish deaths that arise from being out in public that look like accidents to the more over-the-top encounters with the ghost providing more brutal deaths, this one gets a lot to like before featuring plenty of stellar chasing and frightening encounters at the end where everything comes together in a fine, satisfying conclusion.
As well, this one manages to do a lot of great work tying the franchise together. The story gets a lot of enjoyable elements involving the curse carryover from Japan to Korea with the discovery of the origin of the original curse, featuring the investigation into the original incident that started the curse and how it managed to spread. Learning about the connection the bullied girl had with the group and how they treated her provides a fine jumping-off point that later informs the rest of the investigation into the source of the curse plaguing the students. Realizing that the way they treated and bullied her while she was a student with them that provides the launching point to putting the curse on the students while she watches over everything from her computer. The phone calls to her setting the basis for why it’s happening that fill in that aspect of the storyline complete the picture nicely and give the storyline a rather enjoyable sense of closure and finality with the way they lead into each other. Realizing that the source of it all has ties to their relationship and how they need to reforge their bond in order to stop the threat of the ghost gives this some tender moments as well. Overall, these elements make for an enjoyable enough time.
While this one has a lot to like, there are a few flaws here. The main issue with the film is the usual problem associated with the series as far too much time in the middle section is taken up with investigations into the mystery. The slowly-dwindling class realizing they’re part of the curse and looking around at the source of who’s calling them tends to drop all of the suspense and tension being featured here. Attempts to enhance the pacing with infighting and arguing over who’s a true friend that would help them out comes at the expense of the ghostly action which drags the film out longer than it needs to be. As well, there are some issues to be had with the lack of attention the ghost really has as this one features the threat of her calling on the phone as the primary source of their fear instead which is somewhat odd when the threat should come from the ghost about to kill them. Still, these issues really aren’t that detrimental overall.
Overview: ***.5/5
Despite having a few brief hiccups that really aren't that detrimental, this one manages more than enough positive aspects with a great story and some great ghostly action that overcome those few hiccups. If you've made it this far in the franchise it won't be too daunting to give this entry a watch or for fans of J-horror entries in particular who will like this one like the others in the series.
This review was originally published on Asian Movie Pulse and is gratefully reprinted with their cooperation.
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