This movie is an adaption of a novel with the name ~Zero: A Curse Affecting Only Girls~ which is based on the video game series ~Zero(or Fatal Frame in US)~.
I haven't read the novel so I can't really compare them but the story of the film was really interesting and well done.While the plot was moving slowly and sometimes it was confusing it never made me feel tired.I don't remember a scene that was pointless.I liked that the way the story unfolds make u connect all the pieces together.My only complaint is that there was no real climax when the Big mystery was revealed,it was more like an inquisition,listening to the character explaining what happened there and stuff,it wasn't a bad way to reveal the mystery,but i kind of missed the climax that we see in the endings of the games.So overall the story was pretty damn good.I wont get into details because I don't want to spoil anything to you.
The directing was really well done,it drew you the attention and it made an already beautiful scenery even more beautiful.The actors were convincing,they did a great job.The sounds are really good too and the soundtrack beautiful.
I wouldn't call this movie a horror since it's not scary at all.It's eerie at times but not scary.Its more like a mystery movie,thriller is a better way to describe it than horror.
There are many complains that this movie has nothing to do with the games.Well as we already said its not based on a Fatal Frame game but its based on a Novel which is based on the Fatal Frame series(with a storyline and characters completely different from any of the games).The main complain is that there are no ghost fights like in the game which is a key element.But the atmosphere,the story,the characters & their personality,the music,the way the mystery unfolds the feel of this movie makes you feel that you are watching something that belongs in the Fatal Frame universe.Of course this is something that only the hardcore fans of the series can recognize.My personal opinion is that they handled the camera obscure(in the games you can see and fight ghosts with it) really great,there might not be fights with it(God only knows how that would work in a movie) but it plays a key role.
So overall its a really well done movie with a really interesting plot and great directing taking place at a beautiful scenery.Japanese horror/thriller fans and the hardcore fans of the games will appreciate ~Gekijô-ban: Zero~ (aka Fatal Frame : The movie).
