Tormented (2011)

Good start, but then it gets ruined

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

After killing an injured rabbit, the boy Daigo (Takeru Shibuya) does not go to the classes anymore and his older half-sister, the librarian Kiriko (Hikari Mitsushima), becomes his tutor. They live with their father, the book illustrator Kohei (Teruyuki Kagawa), but he does not care to Diago. One day, Kiriko goes with Daigo to the movie theater to watch the 3-D film "The Shock Labyrinth" and Daigo catches a rabbit that comes out of the screen. Soon Daigo has nightmares with a big rabbit and one night, Kirito follows him and believes that his mother Kyoko is attacking him dressed in a rabbit costume. However Kohei tells that Daigo is fruit of her imagination since he died in childbirth. "Rabitto horâ 3D", a.k.a. "Tormented 3D", is a horror film directed by Takashi Shimizu with an intriguing premise. Unfortunately the inconclusive screenplay is a complete mess and the director makes a confused movie impossible to be understood. My vote is three.Title (Brazil): Not Available on Blu-Ray or DVD.

When I watched this movie the first time, I was doing something at the same time, so I wasn't paying full attention to it. By the time I got to the ending, I realized I had no idea what the heck was happening, so I watched it a second time, still practicing my musical instrument, but this time paying closer attention to the film.I had seen the same director's "Shock Labyrinth" the day before, and recognized the fact that the brother and sister were in the movie theater watching Shock Labyrinth when things started going crazy. Some members of the movie theater audience were yelling out, 'What the heck is going on?', probably a private joke from the director towards the reaction of audiences towards Shock Labyrinth. Spoilers...My brother who has a PHD watched this movie and thought it was ridiculous with its big bunny running around causing trouble, so don't feel too bad if you don't understand this movie on first viewing. The key is what the bunny represents to the mute girl. That's about all I'll tell you, because the IMDb isn't paying us a cent for all of our brilliant reviews, so why should I strain my brain...

My first exposure to the films of Takashi Shimizu was "Ju-on: The Grudge." I remember seeing it and literally gripping my armchair in horror while hoping the freaky dead lady crawling down the stairs wouldn't find a way out of my television to get me. I also remember thinking to myself, "Why can't Americans make horror flicks like this?"When I received an e-mail that Shimizu was going to be in town promoting his new movie "Tormented 3D" for the Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF), you better believe I jumped at the opportunity to interview him and see it in a rare theatrical screening. I was blown away by the twisted tale that unraveled in front of me. After seeing a 3D horror movie featuring a stuffed white rabbit, siblings Kiriko and Daigo begin seeing it in a life-sized form. The giant creature stalks them and seems to be trying to tell them something. What is the rabbit attempting to communicate to them and what sort of psychological doorways will it open?Director Shimizu told me "Tormented 3D" was a companion piece to his film "The Shock Labyrinth 3D." I never realized how much it relied on "The Shock Labyrinth 3D" until I saw it again. It's basically the trigger for all the misery Daigo and Kiriko suffer through in this movie. It's the proverbial key that unlocks the dark recesses of their minds.I know the idea of a giant white bunny rabbit running around grabbing people and stalking them might sound absurd. Trust me when I tell you, Shimizu takes the seemingly goofy concept and twists it around in your psyche to the extent that you'll never want to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt or read the story of Peter Cottontail ever again.If you love Asian cinema, "Tormented 3D" is an essential addition to your collection. It's not likely you'll only watch the film once, as it takes several viewings to truly take everything in that it offers visually. This is so much more than a typical horror film and offers an emotional journey as well as a thrill ride.

You know, after seeing "Shock Labyrinth" (2009) I thought Takashi Shimizu was losing it. Sure, it was only one movie, but it was a really lame movie that felt like amateur hour. Most fortunately, Shimizu rebounds nicely with "Rabbit Horror." A young mute woman (Hikari Mitsushima, arguably Japan's best young actress) and her little brother experience nightmarish visions involving a large rabbit. While there's nothing particularly scary here, the horror imagery is creative and fun to watch (there is an emphasis on dream logic, various "forms" of rabbits, an amusement park, and a nifty spiral staircase). The psychological elements are nothing new, but they unfold nicely and are engaging. Ironically, this has certain similarities to "Shock Labyrinth" but does everything a lot better. At only 83 minutes this is a cool movie that flies right by.By the way, the highly acclaimed Christopher Doyle (In the Mood for Love, Hero, Green Tea) is the cinematographer, so that helps too.Some other recent Japanese horror films that I recommend are "Tomie Unlimited" (2011), "Kyofu" (2010), and all four of the "Kaidan Horror Classics" (2010) films.