Premonition Reviews

• Fear Newspaper

  
  By A34A7QEBMYTALW on 2005-07-23
  Lions Gate Films recently cut a deal with a Japanese company and created a small sub-division within LGF aptly named J-Horror. The purpose of this division was to make 6 Japanese horror flicks specifically for the American DVD market. 'Premonition' is one of the first of these films released(the second, released simultaneously, is called 'Infection' and is also very much worth checking out).
  
  The basic set-up goes like this: a couple and their daughter are driving home from a vacation. They stop along side the road at a telephone booth so the husband can attach his laptop to the phoneline so he could email some paperwork to his job. While in the phone booth, he finds a newspaper clipping that predicts his daughter dying in a motor vehicle accident. His wife exits the car to talk to him. Once the wife is out of the car, the husband freaks out over the newspaper, but before he can do anyting a dumptruck smashes their car(with daughter still inside)and the newspaper disappears. The car immediately explodes killing the little girl. Not long after, the couple divorces mostly due to the wife not believing her husband's claims about the newspaper. The husband starts receiving more newspapers predicting the future over the next six or so years and all the while the wife(now his ex)is doing research into the paranormal and the possible existence of this newspaper. The couple gets back together to try and figure out the escalating events...
  
  'Premonition' is based on a thirty-or-so year old Japanese story called 'The Fear Newspaper'. Apparently over there, its pretty well known . Anyways, the acting is good and the special effects are very well done. The plot, while having some similarites to 'Ringu'(especially the original novel by Koji Suzuki), is pretty interesting. The ending, as Asian horror films tend to do, leave you feeling slightly confused. 'Premonition' though doesn't leave you hanging as badly as some others. The extras on the disc are actually pretty good. They're all subtitled, with the best feature being the one on visual effects. Its very interesting.
  
  All in all, 'Premonition' is a nice little addition to any Asian horror fan's collection. Its a nice, tense, well-acted little film. While not completely original, its still a good flick. There's not really any gore to speak of; this is pretty textbook J-horror. If you dug 'Ringu' or 'Juon', I'm sure you will like 'Premonition'.
  
  
  

• More of a supernatural drama/thriller than a horror flick, but worth checking out.

  
  By AI9AIEJWY72YF on 2006-06-21
  Personally, I really enjoyed Premonition. It's got solid acting, a fascinating (and often heart-wrenching) story, and some decent scares. However, don't expect an all out fright fest or you'll be sorely disappointed. This is a story-driven film, with a plot that progresses fairly slowly. Patience is necessary when viewing Premonition, as is a willingness to accept ambiguity and dream-like logic in a film. But for those of you who possess those qualities, and are looking for something a little different (particularly if you're a fan of the genre), Premonition might be for you.
  
  

• I Liked the Stuff Others Didn't ^_^;;;

  
  By A10PEFZT2ZQU8 on 2006-08-04
  First of all, let me say that the current trend towards more and more gore in horror movies is not my cup of tea. I really appreciate movies like this, which rely more on story and acting than blood and gore.
  I admired the performances of many of the actors, particularly watching Mikami-san grow progressively more frazzled (and perhaps a bit insane?) as the story progresses. He does a good job of taking you along on his character's strange journey (both of the supernatural and emotional sort). I was also impressed with how well Nori-p's grown up, both for her acting ability and how lovely she still is in her mid-30s ^_^ ! But that's a bit more shallow ^_^;;; . . .
  A lot of reviewers seem to dislike the ending of this movie, but I loved it-- it gave the viewers something to think about rather than wrapping the ending up in a neat little package. I especially liked the moment when he finally seemed to "get it", that he'd been wasting all that time trying to change the future for others, when the only future one can (or should be able to) control is one's own.
  Though it has its flaws, and its moments of cheese (like any horror flick, I suppose. . .), this is one I wouldn't mind owning and seeing again.
  
  

• And you thought your local paper was full of bad news

  
  By A3KF4IP2MUS8QQ on 2005-09-14
  Premonition is the second entry in the J-Horror series, which are a special series of Japanese horror films made with a special eye toward American audiences. Each of the projected six movies is independent from its fellow J-Horror offerings - different stories, different directors, different everything. This is made quite obvious by the fact that Premonition is a completely different film from the first film entry, Infection. In all honesty, I was a little disappointed in this movie. Infection was fantastic, a tad confusing but full of gore. Premonition works on a psychological level, and one could argue that it's hardly a horror film at all. The ironic thing about this film is the fact that I'm sure it will play better to Japanese than American audiences. There would seem to be at least some root to the story in Japanese culture, and it's very sparing in terms of action sequences. Besides being pretty disjointed, the film (in my opinion) takes things too far in the final sequences. It leaps completely off the pages of logic and delivers a whole series of jarring twists that will make many Americans say "Enough already!"
  
  The basic premise at play here is a "Newspaper of Death" that foretells the grim immediate future. It's never clear where this news actually comes from, but it is the curse of some individuals to be involuntary subscribers to it. This is the story of a teacher who finds a newspaper article foretelling his five-year-old daughter's death; at the time, he's inside a phone booth, and by the time he sees how and when the death is supposed to happen, it's too late. Then we fast forward three years. Now divorced, the main character sort of shuffles along through life trying to avoid newspapers, while his ex-wife is heavily involved in paranormal research. The two are drawn back together just as the man is pushed to the breaking point by a continuous supply of newspaper warnings - in fact, sometimes he just starts scribbling down soon-to-be tragic stories out of thin air. Torn by his indecision just prior to his daughter's death, he now faces the obvious question: should he act to prevent tragedies or simply ignore the premonitions he keeps receiving? Evidence suggests that either course of action will result in extreme unpleasantness. That decision is basically made for him, though, and this sets off a real whirlwind of an ending.
  
  If you liked Infection, that doesn't mean you'll like Premonition - or vice versa. These two films could not be more different. Premonition is more in the Ju-on tradition (with Ringu elements to it), but I would say it's significantly better than The Grudge. There are some effectively disturbing images here, but they are few in number, and that leads me to believe that casual horror fans will find Premonition a little less than exciting. There is no bad guy to center your feelings around, and this sort of amorphous source of horror plays better to those with an interest in the genre. There's also a sort of déjà vu feel to the story; it just feels like you've seen elements of this film somewhere before, and that prevents Premonition from really delivering an effective blow that will stay with you a while. Premonition is a well-made, interesting horror movie - but it doesn't really leave a lasting impression.
  
  

• If you see it, you will die...

  
  By A39W3263A9HCMN on 2005-09-17
  This is a well done Japanese film! I saw this down In cochrane, with one of my cousins. It was late so we decided to put on a scary movie. We rented it and it was great.
  
  STORY: Hideki, a college teacher, regreats the death of his daughter 3 years ago. And scary thing is: A newspaper foretold the death. So Hideki, and his divorced wife set off to find out about this "Newspaper of death" theory. then one day, Hideki saves her from a death foretold by the newspaper and then, this newspaper theory is not what it seems...
  
  THOUGHTS: WHATS WITH ALL THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS!!!!!!!! I liked it! IT is more plot than horror, which is good, because it its the opposite, then its just corny.
  
  So go rent it! today!
  
  UPDATE:
  
  9/26/05
  
  You guys seem to hate my review. Well. Because its short dosent mean you have to hate it.
  
  
• good solid horror movie
  By AXN2IO1UBOF6A on 2006-11-25
  this movie was more on the lines of thriller...but it was very good and very entertaining...a few scarry jump parts....but overall...i have to say it should deff be among the top asain horrors
  
  
• If Hideki Sees It...It will Die
  By AHITZVJ210C7Z on 2006-01-13
  I found this film to be so mind captivating that I sat through the entire film without having to get junk food during any cliché sex scenes found in American horror films.
  This movie is about some guy named Hideki that encounters a newspaper that predicts the death of his daughter.
  Later he finds himself cursed by "The Newspaper Fear" being haunted by foreseeing the future of many catastrophes before they happen in the newspapers, and if he does not take action beforehand he will go insane.
  The movie is well acted and keeps you perplexed with its inexplicable elements; demise, misfortune, and the capacity to see upcoming events. I highly recommend this film since the plots gets right down to the subject from the beginning and doesn't stop till the end.
  I don't want to say much of the plot, and give the storyline away, but it should definitely be rented or purchased. The premonition will leave you with an eerie feeling of impact that leaves you perplexed and wanting to see it again to make sure you did not miss anything. You won't regret it I think its business smart that Lions Films has created some type of partnership with a Japanese corporation in order to create a specific target to make these Japanese films aimed towards the American market, because they are enjoyable and unpredictable.
  
  
  
  
• Premonition: You'll Want To Cancel This Newspaper Subscription--A Look At Two Japanese Horror Films
  By A27H9DOUGY9FOS on 2007-01-14
  To be upfront, I'm not a huge fan of Americanized remakes of Japanese ghost stories or supernatural thrillers. You can keep "The Ring," "Dark Water," "Pulse" and "The Grudge"--to me, it's just hokum with little reason or rationale. You could make a shot-for-shot remake, and I'd still prefer the original. Why? I don't know, maybe it's just a bias. The Japanese ghost story has such a long history in film, maybe I've become accustomed to it--I'm seeing an evolution of the genre and it seems more natural. That doesn't mean that the plots make any more sense, but the films are generally better at evoking a mood and a sense of dread. Having recently seen two such entries in the Japanese horror lexicon, "Premonition" and "Infection," I was once again caught up in creepy goings-on and otherworldly intrigues. Both films are entertaining, if somewhat problematic, and will likely be enjoyed by those who appreciate this sort of thing.
  
  From a technical standpoint, "Premonition" is probably the stronger of the two films. When a family on vacation stops to use a pay phone, the father stumbles on a newspaper portending the death of his daughter. Within a minute, this happens in a harrowing and well executed sequence. Some years later, the couple has separated and both are still haunted by the incident. The husband, in particular, has not recovered from the strange newspaper--no one has believed in its existence. The wife, working in the field of mental phenomena, starts to realize that perhaps her husband isn't delusional--just as he starts to be alerted with further premonitions. United, they try to piece together the history of the newspaper and some of the people who have encountered similar visions. The film evolves into a treatise on sacrifice, mental illness, and whether you can change destiny.
  
  "Infection," on the other hand, is set in a dilapidated and understaffed hospital. A crew of incompetent personnel face inexperience and lack of supplies that cause a neglect of patient care. After the accidental death of a patient and a cover-up of its particulars, they must then face a patient who is literally dissolving with an unknown infection. Needless to say, the infection soon starts to spread--and the staff ends up battling for survival. This is a fun, if not very believable, setup and the resultant film is notable for its hysterics as well as its horror. After a bit of a lark, though, the film tries for a double-twist ending and a meaningful conclusion.
  
  Ultimately, I enjoyed both films. "Premonition" boasts great lead performances, develops a believable chemistry between its stars, and follows through with an interesting ethical dilemma. "Infection" is loopier, more cheesy fun. A lot of people were put off by how unrealistic the hospital setting was--but I actually think this enhances the film. Neither film has a gore or real fright content, they are more about unseen and uncontrollable powers. And while "Premonition" flows to a somewhat logical conclusion, "Infection" seems not to know when to end. It has two different logical conclusions, but passes both of them up for one that is less effective--in my opinion. Anyway, you know if you like this sort of thing or not--either or both are worth checking out. "Premonition" is about 4 stars, while "Infection" is at 3 1/2 (although I found most of it crazy and fun!) KGHarris, 01/07.
  
  
  
  
• One of the best films I have seen
  By A2GRF9MMORV70T on 2007-09-07
  This film was very well done in my opinion. It starts out as a family of three, a mother, father,and a girl, age 5, are traveling down the road, when the father mentions he needs to go back and use the pay phone. They go back, and he gets out to use it and notices a newspaper sticking out of the phone book. It read, Nana, age 5, dies in a car accident. He glances to his wife and child, and Nana mentions her seatbelt is stuck. The wife walks towards him and a car hits the car containing his child. It explodes and then she dies. The rest of the movie is about him seeing the newspaper repeatedly and trying to help others. I recommend this anyone who enjoys Japanese movies.
  
  
• What a great movie
  By A20M044VXC9PD7 on 2006-01-09
  Finally a movie that has a plot along with it...If you enjoy movies that involve thinking then this is for you...Don't settle with all the terrible american horror films that seem to have to throw sex into the mix cus if you like that then you won't like this...A great movie that doesn't need to much dialogue to be good...I enjoyed this movie a lot!!!
  
  
• Better than the American version!
  By ACWVL6RT6OFA8 on 2007-08-31
  This is the first and BEST "Preminition" movie. This, the Asian version, progresses forward...the American version does not. So if you want continuity and progression and you are ready to be freaked out then buy this movie. Enjoy what a real horror movie is suppose to be.
  
  
  
• A must have for your collection!
  By A202GAMZKNAU7D on 2007-11-14
  This movie was amazing. Upon renting this movie twice, I knew that it had to become a new addition to my horror movie family. The story is great. The acting was great. There's a few scares in here that will freak you out, but the story alone is so beautiful. You have to have to watch this movie. And I can bet you that after you watch it, you won't feel that you've wasted anything. You'll probably end up having this movie in your collection also. I love this movie so much. It's in my top 5 list of horror movies.
  
  
• Yogen also known as Premonition [ Contains Spoilers ]
  By AOC8Y7UZ8SDUG on 2006-04-02
  A family of 3 [ father, mother, and daughter ] are returning home from a visit with their family. The father needs a payphone with a jack for his computer because of business reasons, so he makes them turn around back to a payphone. While the mother and daughter wait in the car on the other side of the road, the father finds a newspaper under a book in payphone booth.
  
  This newspaper, known as 'The Newspaper Of Terror', is a premonition. It lets you see future accidents, such as auto wrecks, murders, suicides, before they actually happen. The newspaper of terror only appears to certain people and those certain people are cursed, for if you do nothing about the future accidents you go insane and die, but if you do happen to do some thing about the future accidents you get a strange skin virus and die.
  
  When the father sees that his daughter is going to die in an auto wreck, he is in shock. The mother comes over the to payphone complaining about their daughters seat belt. When they turn around their car with their daughter still in it gets hit by a truck and explodes. The father and mother divorce and both are obsessed with finding out about The Newspaper Of Terror. They begin to see each other again when suddenly the father gets more premonitions and he has to choose between doing nothing or doing something. Finally he gets the chance to go back to his first premonition and set things right.
  
  This is my all time favorite movie. I wasn't expecting this movie to be horrifyingly scary with gruesome murders, but I was expecting this movie to be able to fill me with a little fear and to make me want to keep watching, which this movie completely did. But what I wasn't expecting was for the movie to have some very tragic and sad scenes, such as the accidents on the highway next to the payphone in the beginning and ending. Speaking of the ending, I thought it was amazing. He had the chance to go back and fix what happened. Although what he did was terribly sad, it was what he wanted. Like I said ; This is my all time favorite movie.
  
  
• a great buy!!!
  By AIS6V4THN938Q on 2007-08-08
  I am into Japanese horror films and I absolutely loved this movie!!! Great plot and great actors. A must see if you enjoy horror films
  
  
• Great!
  By A29BFUH7NF72JP on 2006-06-14
  This movie is fantastic! It is defo on my fav list. One of the best!
  
  
• Bone chilling.......
  By AT4ONNJ7NMBRW on 2005-07-11
  The movie starts off with a man, his wife and young daughter, sidelined on the street waiting for the man to finish his work in a phone booth. While waiting inside the phone booth, the man finds a mysterious piece of newspaper that could tell the future, more precisely, the tragic fate of people around him.
  
  Well the plot of the movie is not the most original. But there is a twist on the plot in this movie, making it original in its own way. While watching the movie, it was kind of hard to follow the movie, yet the movie is not filled with gore and blood, the movie does have some eerie sounds and images that will make you jump. At the end eveything comes together.
  
  Overall, not the best horror movie, but I recommend it for all you die hard J-Horror and horror , in general, fans.
  
  
  
  
• Eerie, that is the word.
  By A3BYMKUJZL2XNY on 2006-01-07
  Japanese horror is giving a lesson to American horror. This movie with very little special effects and a great philosophical charge can have a great impact in audiences. Destiny is the main focus in "Premonition".Can we change it? what could happen if we do? In the end it is better to let things go the way they are supposed to go...
  and to the people who compare it with "the ring": the newspaper doesn't kill you like the video tape does, it just tells you when and how you are going to die. So it is an entirely different dynamic.
  
  
• Newspaper Obituraries Of The Future
  By A2F5PAC9I5SCG6 on 2006-08-06
  I have always been one who believes that the nuances or suggestion of horror is more terrifying than the actual telling of horror itself. In the film "Premonition" (aka Yogen) director Norio Tsuruta has done just that. He has given the viewer a film which shows, not tells, the viewer just what horror really is: A nightmare in which the protagonist cannot fight the unforeseen forces of the spirit world. In this case, the foreknowledge of those who will die, and his inability to intercede. The film starts off innocently enough. We have a family that has just returned from a short outing to see the grandparents. On the drive home, however, things are about to become a bit sinister.
  
  Hideki Satomi (Hiroshi Mikami) is an up-and-coming promising and gifted professor. And on his journey home he is busy as ever trying to keep up with the work of his profession. Not wanting to fall behind in his work, he takes it with him. And although his wife Ayaka (Noriko Sakai) finds this annoying, she relents to his request to find a telephone booth along the side of the road, as his laptop computer needs a plug-in when the batteries begin to wane: But with the promise that he will leave his work behind afterwards and enjoy the trip home.
  
  Finding a telephone booth, Ayaka pulls over so Hideki can send his latest work to the university. While waiting for his computer to download the information, he notices a newspaper clipping at the base of the telephone. Opening it up, he is startled to find that the newspaper has a startling portrait and premonition: a foretelling of an ominous event. Shocked, and confused, a tragedy is about to occur. But this is just the beginning of a life of tragedy. There is to be more tragedy in store for him in the future. Hideki's life has intersected with the unknown forces of the spirit world. He has now been given the gift, or in this case, the curse of the foreknowledge of death.
  
  Furthermore, this family tragedy will not be the last. Hideki's life takes a tragic turn as he and his wife will eventually divorce. Blaming himself for not acting quickly enough to prevent an important tragedy in his life, he shuts everyone out of his life. However, the newspapers never stop coming. He refuses to read them, and goes so far as to even having the windows of his apartment covered from seeing these 'Fear Newspapers' when they slap up against his windows. But he is about to take a different route, which will also alter his life. Knowing that these future events are about to occur, he ponders: Can they be prevented? And if so, will he be successful?
  
  This is where the film takes the suggestion and nuance of horror to a different height and gives the viewer a suspenseful film. Maybe he can alter the future? But at what cost? Is there a danger in interfering with the unforseen spirit world? And are there consequences for interfering? His former wife comes to see him; as she is now working for a paranormal research center, and she has come across some interesting and creepy information concerning these 'Fear Newspapers'
  
  It appears that Hideki is not the only one who knows of these newspaper premonitions. Ayaka has met a gifted pyschic who knows about these newspapers; but refuses to divulge any of this information to Ayaka, as those who do meet an unfortunate death: A death I might add that is very unpleasant. As Hideki and Ayaka journey on their quest to find out more about these newspaper premonitions, Hideki knows what he must do. And in doing so, he puts his life in jeopardy. I thought that "Premonition" was a wonderful film. They are the type of films that I wish were done more often.
  
  There are excellent special effects in this film, and the cinematography is outstanding. There is no gore in this film, but there are plenty of creepy and suspensful twists that make "Premonition" one of the better horror films in the genre. I know many people who do not appreciate this film, however, I believe the film works on many levels and I highly recommend it for those who wish to add it to their horror collection. This film is creepy in the way it handles the nuances of horror and terror. I highly recommend you purchase the film. It deserves a watch in any case.
  
  
• There are worse things than knowing the future, namely trying to change it
  By A2NJO6YE954DBH on 2006-04-14
  "Kansen" ("Infection") was the first title in the J-Horror Theater project put together by producer Taka Inchise. With the international success of "Ringu" and "Ju-On" the idea is to keep Japan at the forefront of making horror films with a six-part film anthology. Involved in the project are Hideo Nakata ("Ringu"), Kiyoshi Kurosawa ("Kairo"), and Takashi Shimizu ("Ju-On"). "Yogen" ("Premonitin") is the second film in the series ("J horaa shiataa 2"), directed by Norio Tsuruta, and strongly suggests that these Japanese filmmakers will succeed in the horror genre where their American counterparts have so miserably failed in churning out all those mindless splatter flicks. If two dots define a line, then "Kansen" and "Yogen" prove that you can solid little horror films without resorting to the cultural mysticism of the big vengeful ghost Japanese horror films. The goal of this series is not to shock you, but to make you party to the pain and suffering of the characters.
  
  The Satomi family consists of dad, Hideki (Hiroshi Mikami), his wife Ayaka (Noriko Sakai) and their five-year-old daughter Nana (Hana Inoue). Mom is driving the car back to Tokyo and dad is in the backseat working on his computer while the kid is locked into her child seat. They stop at a roadside phone booth so that Hideki can use the convenient computer connection to send an important e-mail. While he is waiting he spots an old newspaper clipping and picks it up. The newspaper seems to snap at him malevolently, and then he notices with horror that it says his daughter was killed in an automobile accident. On the other side of the road, Ayaka cannot get Nana out of the car seat. Suffice it to say, what the newspaper article says will happen does indeed happen, right before the horrified eyes of Hideki and the audience. In the aftermath of the tragedy he keeps trying to find the newspaper that foretold what happened. Of course, he does not find it.
  
  Three years later Hideki and his wife are divorced. He avoids newspaper while she does research into psychic phenomena. Apparently she is trying to confirm her husband's story, although to what end we are not sure. There are indeed other newspaper headlines, and more horrible things happen, and Hideki tries to do something about them. Through these efforts he learns that those who see these headlines can stop them from coming to pass, but only at a terrible price. This is clear in the tradition of classical mythology where attempting to thwart a prophecy is the worst thing you can do (best proved in "Oedipus the King," where the original prophecy that the son will kill the father is added to when Jocasta tries to murder her own son). I anticipated that this was leading to some ultimate horror to be avoided, as in "The Dead Zone" or "The Mothman Prophecies," but "Yogen" comes for something more intimate and ultimately more satisfying.
  
  This 2004 horror film has a terrific hook at the start, although it does essentially punch the audience right in the gut, but the problem comes with the lengthy line before we get to the weighty sinker at the end. The first and second acts of the film suffer in comparison to the opening, as we slowly get a sense for what the rules are here. There will be many viewers who will start to nod out as this point, because not only is it not all that clear how the plot is developing at this point, it is also all unfolding in a rather low-key manner that can lull you into having your attention wander from reading the sub-titles. However, the final act is solid, and even if the final resolution becomes clear to you a bit sooner than it does to the main character, that does not make it that much less satisfying. So, no matter what, stick around for the ending so you can take the payoff into rendering your final verdict. Well worth watching, but I think you could recut it to something under an hour and make it a lot more effective.
  
  
• Similar to Butterfly Effect
  By ABUEUI62QAK7F on 2005-07-09
  This movie is pretty good--with a fair amount of suspense-it also holds your attention to the conclusion. The ending is quite similar to Butterfly Effect--if you see both--you'll know what I mean--but I don't want to give the ending away! Basically, Hideki sees newspaper storys before they happen--though only on a few occasions-the first occurrence--he takes no action and the results are horrendous-for him and his wife.
  Later a young girl is involved--and as in "Running on Karma"--Hideki finds himself unable to change fate (Karma, destiny, kismet--take your pick) Nothing overly original-but still good entertainment and a better than average way to spend an hour and a half with the tv! To rent or to buy--hard to say--I bought it and have no regrets!
  
  
  
  
• Great!
  By A2A14RBCFGMV7L on 2005-09-07
  This is the second movie in the J-Horror series - the third releases in January in Japan. And it's a Shimizu!
  Anyways, I thought that this was much much better than Infection. I thought the story was original and old/traditional in the way that it was a long time in the making. Anything else you need to know, you can find in SOIA1979's review which is detailed and pretty flawless- so not much else I can say!
  
  
• this was filmed at the same time as juon...
  By A1SV8EGTDERZUD on 2005-08-26
  it reminded me of the ring only instead of a phone call you get a newspaper. original? not really. scary? nope. tense moments yes. should be enjoyed if you are into this horror asian movement going on right now.
  
  
• The TERROR of Knowing the INEVITABLE and the Price you have to Pay
  By A2UUP58XPQW3GF on 2008-10-04
  There have been many entries of J-horror ever since the success of "Ringu" in the U.S., not to mention an overabundance of Asian horror remakes. Before this film does officially get massacred by Hollywood, (it has been marked for remake hell) I thought it may be the best time to review this piece of Japanese horror. J-Horror theater 2: PREMONITION (aka. YOGEN, 2004) is based on the manga by Jiro Tsunoda called "Kyofu Shimbun" (Newspaper of Terror). Directed by Norio Tsurata, the film does have a somewhat nostalgic feel to it, similar to the 60's TV show "Twilight Zone"; which wouldn't be surprising since the Japanese comic became popular in the 1970's.
  
  Newspapers are used to tell the past, but for a few unlucky individuals, they foretell the future. When Hideki (Hiroshi Mikami) picked up a piece of a newspaper that foretells his daughter`s death, he is so puzzled as to what this piece of paper meant and before he realizes what is happening, he is too late to save her.
  After the accident, Hideki and his wife Ayaka (beauteous Noriko Sakai, Ju-On 2), divorced and they go their separate ways. Three years have passed, Ayaka had been researching this strange phenomena with the aid of a medium, Prof. Mikoshiba (Kazuko Yoshiyuki) while Hideki fears that if he picks up a newspaper, he will see death. Nonetheless, Hideki begins foretelling ill-omened fate of murder to train crashes, there is nothing Hideki can do to stop the events...or is there? Now, Hideki and Ayaka must find others who have experienced this mysterious phenomenon, in hope of finding an answer. Little do they know that they will be changing their lives forever....
  
  The film does have a good plot and even references the famous psychic Chizuko Mifune, the medium who was discovered by a spiritualistic professor and who later committed suicide. The direction by Norio Tsurata is quite competent but somehow I think his style does push the film a bit to human drama than towards chilling horror. Tsurata does steer the film towards a melodramatic approach and while I appreciate that he took the time to flesh out his characters, some viewers may take it as a way to divert the film from its horrific premise. Still, the film does have a number of intense scenes that are both chilling and unnerving. The film does take its time, which helps its script as it builds credibility through its screenplay.
  
  The film's cinematography is polished and stylized. Although some of the CGI effects does look a little cheesy at times. Despite its faults, the ominous music and the nicely paced sequences do assist the film in entertaining me. I am a bit put off by Hiroshi Mikami's performance, he was trying a bit too hard to act terrified. Fortunately, Noriko Sakai is around to bail him out. Sakai is a great actress and quite a treat to look at.
  
  Now about the plot. The film focuses more on the phenomena's investigation rather than scenes after scenes of deaths and accidents. Most of the violence happen off camera, Hideki and Ayaka does take center stage. While the couple obsesses in finding the secret of the "Fear Newspaper", they slowly find themselves becoming attached to each other again. The secret of Rei Kigat and the 13-year old boy who aged into an old man within 6 months are the film's major selling points. These scenes are very unnerving as they become revealed as I got closer to the film's climax.
  
  The good thing about "Yogen" is that the film does have a solid plot and the rules of the film does have a lot of credibility and answers its own questions. True, the film's script does contain some of the usual histrionics, but I do think "Premonition" is a very good film. The film is nicely paced and pleasingly well-rounded. It contained quite a few surprises and avoids cheap scares. No, there is no long-haired ghost in pale make-up on this one. The film focuses on its characters, its mystery and it's logic does make a whole lot of sense when you put it all together. Rei Kigat and Hideki's fates are quite credible, but it also opens some questions.
  
  This is the type of film that the less you know about it, the better the experience will be. Tsurata is to be commended that he managed to generate a feeling of intrigue and genuine creepiness in the film. The film's internal logic and unusual surprises managed to keep me interested for its entirety, despite Mikami's overdone performance. Noriko Sakai is real nice to look at.
  
  Whenever you touch a newspaper, do you notice the ink getting on your fingers? You won't look at it the same way again.
  Highly Recommended! [4- Stars]
  
  
  
  
  
• This is a good movie
  By A3BA53YVIPERYO on 2008-02-20
  What would you do if you knew someone was going to die? Would you save them, even if it meant your own slow and painful death?
  
  Despite the not so great acting, Premonition is very involving. The story kept my attention until the end, and I wanted to watch it again and again! As is true to a lot Asian horror movies, the cheezy effects are laughable. Especially the newspaper that chases them at the end!!!
  
  Still, this is a good movie if you want to see something new.
  
  
• Doesn't quite fulfil its potential
  By A2CWGRUH7APIPM on 2006-07-11
  This is a worthy enough addition to the J-Horror sub-genre and in theory there isn't actually anything particularly bad about it; but, all the same, I couldn't help coming away from it with a sense of disappointment. Thinking about it, I suspect my disappointment stems from the fact that Premonition, as a horror movie, just isn't frightening enough. There are so many moments during the film when the horrific aspects could have lifted it to the level of other, more famous Asian horrors (such as Ringu, Ju-on and Tale of Two Sisters) but the director seems unwilling to allow the horrors full reign. Don't misunderstand me - reticence is a worthy aim in a horror film; but there is a difference between suggesting horrors in order to get the audience's imagination working and actually showing those horrors in such a half-hearted manner that the viewer wonders why they bothered. There is one brief scene towards the end of the film - when our protagonist encounters the crawling inhabitant of a psychiatric cell - that almost reaches the heights of terror expressed in those other films I've mentioned, but it is very much the exception. At the end of the day, however well-made, acted and written the film is, the simple fact of the matter is that floating scraps of old newspaper, even when their appearances are accompanied by unearthly moans, just aren't very frightening. Worth a look, because at the end of the day it's still an intelligent film, but it's no classic.
  
  

• Infection
• The Eye 2
• Audition (Uncut Special Edition)
• Ju-on (The Grudge)
• Ju-On 2