‘Shutter’ belongs in the outhouse Something essential in the Asian horror remake is lost in translation

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In theaters

SHUTTER, directed by Masayuki Ochiai, written by Luke Dawson, rated PG-13, 85 minutes.

From director Masayuki Ochiai, “Shutter” is based on the popular 2004 Thai horror film of the same name, but like so many other Asian horror imports, from “The Ring” to “The Grudge” series and beyond, too much of what worked in the original is lost in translation.

Joshua Jackson and Rachael Taylor are Ben and Jane, a recently married couple who leave the States for Tokyo, where they plan to enjoy a festive honeymoon and where Ben, an annoying, self-involved photographer, also will work on a high-end fashion shoot.

It all goes sour when Jane, roaring through the dark just outside Mount Fuji, runs over a woman before her car veers and slams into a tree. Trouble is, when she and Ben snap out of it, there’s no sign of the woman, who perhaps, like a wounded deer, ran off into the woods and out of the movie forever.

While that would have been a shrewd career move, it’s unfortunately not the case.

Turns out the woman is pale Megumi (Megumi Okina), who starts to make appearances in more unnerving ways, particularly when Ben and Jane find her lurking about in smudgy images of Ben’s otherwise swell photography.

It’s at this point that the movie introduces audiences to the idea of “spirit photography,” an event in which images of the dead are caught on film, usually with menacing grimaces, gaping mouths or with cold, empty eyes.

The idea of the dead showing up to darken one’s photos is creepy, sure, if not exactly fresh. Still, the film runs with it as if it has just found the brass ring of something new and unexplored. Soon, Megumi is causing all sorts of predictable havoc, popping up in mirrors and shaking Jane awake in her darkest nightmares. The reason? Apparently, Megumi has something critical to say to Jane, but just what that is, well, that’s best left for you.

“Shutter” isn’t the worst horror movie of late – it isn’t, after all, as bad as “The Eye.” But in spite of squeaking out a few individual scenes of so-so horror, none of those scenes compensates for what’s essentially an uninspired movie that doles out the stock cliches with lackluster zeal and with barely an imagination of its own.

Grade: D

On DVD

It’s a busy week on DVD – and a fine week at that, particularly if you overlook some of the dogs out there, such as the Blu-ray release of “10.5 Apocalypse” or, say, the release of “Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II.” So, let’s focus on the best – in this case several titles from the BBC.

First up is “Helen Mirren at the BBC,” a fine collection that suggests that Mirren wasn’t always a queen, at least not in the regal sense. She also could be something of a tramp, a comedian, a tragic heroine, a mistress – you name it. Still, regardless of how Mirren challenged herself – and her willingness to do so is what makes this set as satisfying and as insightful as it is – her ability to tap into the vast host of different characters on display here is never less than impressive.

The eight films assembled are 1974’s “The Changeling”; 1975’s “The Apple Cart,” “Caesar and Claretta,” “The Philanthropist” and “The Little Minister”; 1977’s “The Country Wife”; 1979’s “Blue Remembered Hills”; and 1981’s “Mrs. Reinhardt.”

Also from the BBC is “Father Ted: The Definitive Collection,” which fittingly is set on Craggy Island, where Father Ted (Dermot Morgan), Father Dougal (Ardal O’Hanlon) and Father Jack (Frank Kelly) all were banished by the Catholic Church for ineptness. Now, they must contend with themselves, not to mention their bizarre caretaker, Mrs. Doyle (Pauline McLynn, marvelous). It’s a good series – far racier than “The Vicar of Dibley” – and also funnier.

Those who demand more Coimisiun and Comhdhail in their lives should look to the 1996 performance offered in “Riverdance: Live at Radio City Music Hall,” which is so feverish, some viewers might break into a sweat while watching it. Much like the demise of the pennywhistle before it, this Celtic sensation has long been abandoned by pop culture, but there’s no getting around it. The ridiculously precise, rhythmic choreography remains a hypnotic feat to behold.

Also available is “Les Miserables: The 10th Anniversary Dream Cast in Concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall.” The dream cast in question includes Colm Wilkinson, Michael Ball and Alun Armstrong from the original London production, and Lea Salonga, Michael Maguire and Judy Kuhn from the Broadway production. As you’d expect, it’s all larger than life, but with the close-ups and quick-cut editing getting in the way of how the show actually was presented, you can’t help wishing that the camera had just stayed still.

Finally, those who recall with fondness the 1980s American nighttime soap opera “Hotel” should definitely turn to “Hotel Babylon: Season One,” which is glamorous, but in a different way. In this robust series, these Brits are hard-core harlots, slinking through the swank hotel in question to generate all sorts of sex, strife, bitterness and melodrama, all while dealing with the high-strung guests. Tamzin Oathwraite, Dexter Fletcher and Max Beesley star, the latter often without his shirt and flat on his back.

“Mirren”: A; “Father Ted”: B+; “Riverdance”: B-; “Les Miserables”: B-; “Babylon”: B

WeekinRewind.com is the site for Bangor Daily News film critic Christopher Smith’s blog, video podcasts and archive of hundreds of movie reviews. Smith’s reviews appear Mondays, Fridays and weekends in Lifestyle, as well as on bangordailynews.com. He may be reached at Christopher@weekinrewind.com.

NEW TO DVD

Renting a DVD? BDN film critic Christopher Smith can help. Below are his grades of recent releases. Those in bold print are new to stores this week.

Blades of Glory – B+

The Brave One – C

Coyote Ugly: Blu-ray – C-

Daddy Day Camp – F

Dragon Wars – D+

Eastern Promises – A-

Enchanted – A-

Evan Almighty – C

Father Ted: Definitive Collection – B+

The Game Plan – B

Hairspray – A-

Helen Mirren at the BBC – A

Hotel Babylon: Season One – B

I Am Legend – B-

The Kite Runner – B-

Les Miserables – B-

Love in the Time of Cholera – C

Lust, Caution – C

Michael Clayton – A-

Mr. Woodcock – C-

No Country for Old Men – A

Rendition – C+

Riverdance – B-

The Simpsons Movie – B+

The 6th Day: Blu-ray – C+

Stardust – B

Superbad – B+

Surf’s Up – B+

Sweeney Todd – A

The Transformers – B+

30 Days of Night – B-

Unbreakable: Blu-ray – C+

Walk the Line: Extended Cut – A-