Customer Reviews

Premonition

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Lions Gate Films recently cut a deal with a Japanese company and created a small sub-division within LGF aptly named J-Horror. The purpose of this division was to make 6 Japanese horror flicks specifically for the American DVD market. 'Premonition' is one of the first of these films released(the second, released simultaneously, is called 'Infection' and is also very much worth checking out).

The basic set-up goes like this: a couple and their daughter are driving home from a vacation. They stop along side the road at a telephone booth so the husband can attach his laptop to the phoneline so he could email some paperwork to his job. While in the phone booth, he finds a newspaper clipping that predicts his daughter dying in a motor vehicle accident. His wife exits the car to talk to him. Once the wife is out of the car, the husband freaks out over the newspaper, but before he can do anyting a dumptruck smashes their car(with daughter still inside)and the newspaper disappears. The car immediately explodes killing the little girl. Not long after, the couple divorces mostly due to the wife not believing her husband's claims about the newspaper. The husband starts receiving more newspapers predicting the future over the next six or so years and all the while the wife(now his ex)is doing research into the paranormal and the possible existence of this newspaper. The couple gets back together to try and figure out the escalating events...

'Premonition' is based on a thirty-or-so year old Japanese story called 'The Fear Newspaper'. Apparently over there, its pretty well known . Anyways, the acting is good and the special effects are very well done. The plot, while having some similarites to 'Ringu'(especially the original novel by Koji Suzuki), is pretty interesting. The ending, as Asian horror films tend to do, leave you feeling slightly confused. 'Premonition' though doesn't leave you hanging as badly as some others. The extras on the disc are actually pretty good. They're all subtitled, with the best feature being the one on visual effects. Its very interesting.

All in all, 'Premonition' is a nice little addition to any Asian horror fan's collection. Its a nice, tense, well-acted little film. While not completely original, its still a good flick. There's not really any gore to speak of; this is pretty textbook J-horror. If you dug 'Ringu' or 'Juon', I'm sure you will like 'Premonition'.

Personally, I really enjoyed Premonition. It's got solid acting, a fascinating (and often heart-wrenching) story, and some decent scares. However, don't expect an all out fright fest or you'll be sorely disappointed. This is a story-driven film, with a plot that progresses fairly slowly. Patience is necessary when viewing Premonition, as is a willingness to accept ambiguity and dream-like logic in a film. But for those of you who possess those qualities, and are looking for something a little different (particularly if you're a fan of the genre), Premonition might be for you.

this movie was more on the lines of thriller...but it was very good and very entertaining...a few scarry jump parts....but overall...i have to say it should deff be among the top asain horrors

First of all, let me say that the current trend towards more and more gore in horror movies is not my cup of tea. I really appreciate movies like this, which rely more on story and acting than blood and gore.
I admired the performances of many of the actors, particularly watching Mikami-san grow progressively more frazzled (and perhaps a bit insane?) as the story progresses. He does a good job of taking you along on his character's strange journey (both of the supernatural and emotional sort). I was also impressed with how well Nori-p's grown up, both for her acting ability and how lovely she still is in her mid-30s ^_^ ! But that's a bit more shallow ^_^;;; . . .
A lot of reviewers seem to dislike the ending of this movie, but I loved it-- it gave the viewers something to think about rather than wrapping the ending up in a neat little package. I especially liked the moment when he finally seemed to "get it", that he'd been wasting all that time trying to change the future for others, when the only future one can (or should be able to) control is one's own.
Though it has its flaws, and its moments of cheese (like any horror flick, I suppose. . .), this is one I wouldn't mind owning and seeing again.

This film was very well done in my opinion. It starts out as a family of three, a mother, father,and a girl, age 5, are traveling down the road, when the father mentions he needs to go back and use the pay phone. They go back, and he gets out to use it and notices a newspaper sticking out of the phone book. It read, Nana, age 5, dies in a car accident. He glances to his wife and child, and Nana mentions her seatbelt is stuck. The wife walks towards him and a car hits the car containing his child. It explodes and then she dies. The rest of the movie is about him seeing the newspaper repeatedly and trying to help others. I recommend this anyone who enjoys Japanese movies.

To be upfront, I'm not a huge fan of Americanized remakes of Japanese ghost stories or supernatural thrillers. You can keep "The Ring," "Dark Water," "Pulse" and "The Grudge"--to me, it's just hokum with little reason or rationale. You could make a shot-for-shot remake, and I'd still prefer the original. Why? I don't know, maybe it's just a bias. The Japanese ghost story has such a long history in film, maybe I've become accustomed to it--I'm seeing an evolution of the genre and it seems more natural. That doesn't mean that the plots make any more sense, but the films are generally better at evoking a mood and a sense of dread. Having recently seen two such entries in the Japanese horror lexicon, "Premonition" and "Infection," I was once again caught up in creepy goings-on and otherworldly intrigues. Both films are entertaining, if somewhat problematic, and will likely be enjoyed by those who appreciate this sort of thing.

From a technical standpoint, "Premonition" is probably the stronger of the two films. When a family on vacation stops to use a pay phone, the father stumbles on a newspaper portending the death of his daughter. Within a minute, this happens in a harrowing and well executed sequence. Some years later, the couple has separated and both are still haunted by the incident. The husband, in particular, has not recovered from the strange newspaper--no one has believed in its existence. The wife, working in the field of mental phenomena, starts to realize that perhaps her husband isn't delusional--just as he starts to be alerted with further premonitions. United, they try to piece together the history of the newspaper and some of the people who have encountered similar visions. The film evolves into a treatise on sacrifice, mental illness, and whether you can change destiny.

"Infection," on the other hand, is set in a dilapidated and understaffed hospital. A crew of incompetent personnel face inexperience and lack of supplies that cause a neglect of patient care. After the accidental death of a patient and a cover-up of its particulars, they must then face a patient who is literally dissolving with an unknown infection. Needless to say, the infection soon starts to spread--and the staff ends up battling for survival. This is a fun, if not very believable, setup and the resultant film is notable for its hysterics as well as its horror. After a bit of a lark, though, the film tries for a double-twist ending and a meaningful conclusion.

Ultimately, I enjoyed both films. "Premonition" boasts great lead performances, develops a believable chemistry between its stars, and follows through with an interesting ethical dilemma. "Infection" is loopier, more cheesy fun. A lot of people were put off by how unrealistic the hospital setting was--but I actually think this enhances the film. Neither film has a gore or real fright content, they are more about unseen and uncontrollable powers. And while "Premonition" flows to a somewhat logical conclusion, "Infection" seems not to know when to end. It has two different logical conclusions, but passes both of them up for one that is less effective--in my opinion. Anyway, you know if you like this sort of thing or not--either or both are worth checking out. "Premonition" is about 4 stars, while "Infection" is at 3 1/2 (although I found most of it crazy and fun!) KGHarris, 01/07.

I found this film to be so mind captivating that I sat through the entire film without having to get junk food during any cliché sex scenes found in American horror films.
This movie is about some guy named Hideki that encounters a newspaper that predicts the death of his daughter.
Later he finds himself cursed by "The Newspaper Fear" being haunted by foreseeing the future of many catastrophes before they happen in the newspapers, and if he does not take action beforehand he will go insane.
The movie is well acted and keeps you perplexed with its inexplicable elements; demise, misfortune, and the capacity to see upcoming events. I highly recommend this film since the plots gets right down to the subject from the beginning and doesn't stop till the end.
I don't want to say much of the plot, and give the storyline away, but it should definitely be rented or purchased. The premonition will leave you with an eerie feeling of impact that leaves you perplexed and wanting to see it again to make sure you did not miss anything. You won't regret it I think its business smart that Lions Films has created some type of partnership with a Japanese corporation in order to create a specific target to make these Japanese films aimed towards the American market, because they are enjoyable and unpredictable.

This movie was amazing. Upon renting this movie twice, I knew that it had to become a new addition to my horror movie family. The story is great. The acting was great. There's a few scares in here that will freak you out, but the story alone is so beautiful. You have to have to watch this movie. And I can bet you that after you watch it, you won't feel that you've wasted anything. You'll probably end up having this movie in your collection also. I love this movie so much. It's in my top 5 list of horror movies.

This is the first and BEST "Preminition" movie. This, the Asian version, progresses forward...the American version does not. So if you want continuity and progression and you are ready to be freaked out then buy this movie. Enjoy what a real horror movie is suppose to be.

Finally a movie that has a plot along with it...If you enjoy movies that involve thinking then this is for you...Don't settle with all the terrible american horror films that seem to have to throw sex into the mix cus if you like that then you won't like this...A great movie that doesn't need to much dialogue to be good...I enjoyed this movie a lot!!!