Gidam

People that enjoy movies that sustain a horrific atmosphere and internal logic that allows "the suspension of disbelief" should give the 2007 Korean horror movie "Epitaph" ("Gidam") a chance. It is really good looking throughout and I thought the last minute or so was really great.

Even better, the visual effects have accessible meaning the way they do in some of the best Thai movies, aren't just eye candy or so obscure you'd have to be a film student to get them.

It has an irritatingly convoluted plot, but it does come together at the very end. I think the typically Asian sincerity more than makes up for the typically Asian convolution.

I'd like to start off and say that this is a beautifully cinematic film. Even without the horror element, you can just admire this movie for what it is, simply beautiful. It does an amazing job at combining the horror element with the artistic shots. With both of these working together creates a truly terrifying experience that you can't take your eyes from. I like to call it a "pretty nightmare".

The movie will be very confusing if you're not paying attention because there are multiple stories happening at the same time(However, you'll most likely watch it twice). Each story seems to have its own twist that unfolds throughout the movie and finishes with a satisfying ending. This is definitely worth a watch. While it is not your typical horror movie, it is still very good and will scare you/creep you out.

One of the two or three most beautiful ghost story movies ever made, and probably the most complex. The 6.3 on IMDb is driven by people who don't seem to understand this movie.

A very general spoiler ahead.

It took three viewings, including two back-to-back on the same night, for me to really understand what was going on across the three interrelated stories which constitute the plot of this movie. I finally figured out that there are three types of ghost stories unfolding within Epitaph. One involves ghosts which are actually nightmares (as in dreams) brought on by guilt. Another involves ghosts which are schizophrenic delusions brought on by (seemingly literal) soul-crushing grief. And the third is an actual supernatural ghost story. This combination is brilliant, and I don't think any movie before or since has attempted anything like it.

As a movie, Epitaph is creepy in parts, scary in parts, and poignant throughout. It also consists of countless beautifully composed shots, accentuated by gorgeous lighting, imaginative editing, and a beautiful score (which twice includes a somewhat jarring if fitting Bernard Hermann homage). Thematically, it is steeped in grief, guilt, the human yearning for love and companionship, all set within a rich historical context.

I can't say enough about Epitaph. This movie is egregiously underrated and overlooked in world cinema, especially by ghost story aficionados. It should be at or near the very top of every list of best filmed ghost stories.

This movie is heavily structured (we have three subplots that revolves around different types of hauntings) but, imho, uselessly so. The three stories are pretty straightforward per se but the historical setting, the impeccable aesthetic and slow pacing give an impression of complexity. It is a good a movie but I felt slightly defrauded when it ended because the story was really just that.

Epitaph is an South-Korean horror film taking place on hospital in South-Korea year 1941.Its during world-war II and Japan occupation on Korea.Its more an mixed horror/love-story as the film has like 3 separate love- stories that at first seems a bit confusing but in the end make sense and linked together.Don't get me wrong the movie has some fine scares and is mostly an horror-film.The hospital look is creepy.I must say one of the best Asian films I ever seen.Its so very beautiful movie and nothing like I watched before from Asia.I also like the music-score that fit the film near perfect.Acting is very good.Not a very bloody and violent film, but it has some nice scenes of pure horror.Story is a bit hard to follow but anyhow its an excellent piece of film.Epitaph played on cinema in South-Korea Summer 2007 and its now out on DVD in S-Korea.Don't now if it was an box-office hit in S-Korea but it would surprise me if not as horror films are very popular over there.Not to be missed if you like Asian horror.I give the move 9/10