10 Worthwhile Asian Horror Films Currently Without Remakes
3. Cello
Year: 2005 Country: South Korea Director: Woo-Cheol Lee
Unlike many of the films in this article which were understandably not remade since they didn't fit the standard of Ring-inspired Asian horror movies, Cello is a perfect cousin to that film and its many imitators (or, less charitably, a rip-off). There's a long-haired ghost girl, spooky haunted recordings, a creepy little kid, a big final twist, and all the other tropes associated with the subgenre. But that doesn't mean it should be counted out immediately; it's actually a pretty well-done example of the format. The story is about Mi-Ju, a part-time cello instructor whose life is falling apart. In addition to the stress of raising a family which includes a mentally-handicapped daughter, she has a spiteful former student stalking her, a creepy new maid with a tragic past, and she's getting mysterious text messages. Things only get worse and worse, building to deaths, ghostly encounters, and the revelation of a dark secret in her past. The movie is capably-made and manages to have a decent selection of effective scares, despite its obvious similarities to earlier films. If anything makes the movie stand out, it has to be how utterly cruel the ghost is to Mi-Ju - the events in this film go far beyond creepy nightmares and a curse that will kill her in so many days. It's not a bold new direction for horror, but if you liked Ring and its ilk and are interested in seeing more like it, Cello is easily worth a look.