The Wig Details

I really wanted to like this film

Great packaging, looks great, sounds great, great title! Japanese horror, The Wig, I thought, I want some of that!

For the first two thirds of the movie I was happy; great cinematography, decent opening plot, good acting, good looking actors and an almost scarey wig that has a mysterious and dark past.

However, the scares weren't scarey enough and even the ironic, knowing, inner smile a live wig brings disappeared as the plot fragmented into gratuitous pieces and the ending left me gutted.

It began stylish, with potential, and right up until the penultimate act I was ready to award it three stars, but the final quarter was an unhappy experience that disappointed. It deserved a better finale.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Korean Gothic

One of the images that made films such as 'The Ring' and 'Audition' so disturbing was that of the face hidden by long, straight, jet-black hair. This film takes that particular trope and runs with it in the tale of, believe it or not, a haunted wig. I might not have bothered contributing a review had it not been that most of the others were so negative, from people who found it dull - which is fair enough - to the inevitable boring whinge about subtitles, and I wanted to recommend it as quite an effective example of the genre, not, maybe in the concept as a a whole - and I agree with the reviewer who found the finale disappointing - but in the detail. There's a collision between a car and a truck which is worth the price of the DVD alone, and some excellent work done with reflections, particularly in the window of a moving train. There's more action in this than is usual for a genre which excels in atmosphere, but, although that's not to my taste, some may like it. Take note of the constructive criticism, ignore the moaners and give it a go, is my advice.