RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Much like Audition this movie is not a thoroughbred horror movie, indeed half of it seems more preoccupied with the relationship between the hard-working single mother Yoshimi and her daughter Ikuko (who mysteriously seems to go missing whenever poor Yoshimi turns her back). The interesting factor here is that whilst moving into her new unusually spooky apartment, finding a school for Ikuko and finding a job, Yoshimi also has to contend with her ex-husband who is attempting to get custody of Ikuko (because he's rich and constantly seems to make Yoshimi out to be neurotic you'd think he'd be the bad guy but they don't make him out to be a complete bastard). As if all these hectic subplots weren't enough, Yoshimi is also stricken with the gradual realization she has an increasingly leaky roof and seems to be repeatedly encountering an ominous red Hello Kitty bag... Though this doesn't sound gut-wrenchingly horrifying these elements are useful in raising the possibility that all the mysterious goings on are just in Yoshimi's head and are successful in isolating her (and consequently the viewer) from normal society and into an atmosphere that is far more lonely and desolate. That's when the real scares begin. If you're patient with this movie it can be very rewarding, however horror fans expecting blood and guts every other minute will be sorely disappointed.