Asian film examines odd family

The Asian horror genre has been getting a lot of attention in the United States lately. While none of these films have enjoyed a wide release here, American remakes of the Japanese classics “The Ring” and “The Grudge” are examples of their growing influence.

These films were such fresh experiences for American audiences that Hollywood couldn’t wait to copy them. They’ve proved fairly popular, so now movie studios are buying the rights to as many Asian horror movies as they can get their hands on.

Korea’s “A Tale of Two Sisters” is one such film, but what makes it worth mentioning is that it manages to set itself apart from the current wave of horror cinema.

Based on an old Korean folk tale, the story is about two sisters, the quiet Su-yeon and her protective older sister Su-mi. The teenagers have just returned home after treatment at a mental health clinic. The cause of their stay isn’t immediately clear, but attention quickly shifts to their less-than-ideal home life.

The girls live in a stately and secluded home in the country with their father and stepmother. Their stepmother, who Su-mi refers to as “that woman,” has a penchant for cruelty and immediately begins to torture Su-yeon. Su-mi is outraged both by this and her father’s cold and distant behavior.

Soon the sisters have new problems as weird things start happening in the house. Visions of a ghostly woman with hair obscuring her face begins appearing unexpectedly. Apparently the family is not alone.

Sounds pretty typical for the Asian horror genre. Anyone who has seen “The Ring” or “The Grudge” will know that the pale ghost with hair in her face is something of a staple for these movies. But as soon as the movie looks like it’s shaping up to be your standard haunted-house fare, the bottom drops out from under the viewer.

The stepmother’s behavior becomes increasingly bizarre, and the decor of the house seems to change at random. But what is really suspicious is the seeming oblivion of the father to these strange occurrences. Is the house truly haunted, or is someone in the family slowly losing their mind?

When the lines between fantasy and reality get completely erased is when it becomes impossible to stop watching this movie. What is wrong with this family? What dark secret are they hiding? There comes a point in the movie where you will have no idea what is going on, but rest assured that most of the mystery will be explained in the end.

This is where “A Tale of Two Sisters” becomes something more than just a genre horror film. The tension that is achieved is not dependent on cheap shocks as much as the creepy atmosphere and feeling of disorientation put upon the audience. But the true horror comes not from ghosts but to the nightmare of being trapped in a broken family.

The cinematography is beautiful, filled with the contrasting spring colors of the fields and the dark reds used to decorate the house. The shifting hues and shadows within the home really give it a life of its own and do much to elevate the dark mood.

The film also takes time for quiet moments with sisters. Touching scenes like the sisters sitting on a dock or Su-mi teaching Su-yeon how to whistle a song their mother used to like help to give the impending feeling of doom a great deal of heft. When this movie drops its bombs, you’ll feel them in the gut.

The success of “A Tale of Two Sisters” comes from its success at blending genres. It is a horror piece, psychological thriller and chilling family drama all rolled up into one beautifully delivered package. The experience stays with you, and because of the layering depths of reality in the film, repeat viewings will be enjoyable as the viewer can pick up on something different each time

So take the time to run out to your local video store and rent this one. Then you’ll be able to tell everyone how bad the future remake with the Olsen twins really is.