Gidam

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.

After finding a photo album, a doctor looks back on his life which includes his time working in a hospital during WWII which involves the mysterious case of a young girl being tormented by ghosts among other incidents which set him off on a journey to stop the encounters from continuing.

This one has quite a lot to like with it. One of the better strengths here is an enjoyable storyline that offers a lot of intriguing elements. That there are several timelines at play with the setup in the present day setting up the storyline at the hospital in the past which sets this one going. The whole idea of the original hospital-set story going through the time period does allow it to tie into actual history quite nicely while that also leads into the series of storylines involving the romance between the doctor and the woman laying on the table he's tasked with working on. On top of this setup is the storyline about the strange deaths involving the soldiers that takes place around the entire hauntings-at-the-hospital setup that's at the center of the film. The ability of this one to keep these factors charging along in a cohesive manner provides a solid baseline here. The other nice factor here is the strong series of haunting scenes the few times we get them. The early encounters in the hospital showed off the haunted nature of the building with the ghost popping out of strange locations while letting the creepy look and make-up of the ghost generate solid thrills. Also quite effective are the quick ambush attacks of the serial killer going around knocking off the various soldiers which bring about the few bloody sequences that show up here. With the finale also bringing together the various storylines with the series of revelations and reveals coming into play, it ends on a high note that's just as enjoyable as the impressive technical qualities. Full of gorgeous cinematography and some wonderfully composed shots, especially within the hospital setting, which offers an overall impressive setup that has quite a lot to like. There are some flaws with the film that holds it back. The main factor against this one is the rather dull and plodding pace that takes forever for much to happen. As it winds through the series of intricately laid-out storylines and setups at the hospital, the overall impression taken here is one of a drama rather than a frenetic genre effort. Even taking into account a romance between several of the characters that result in a traumatic incident with the car crash or the struggle to keep the daughter alive following that incident drags the pace out even more. With so much of the film bringing up these outside elements in favor of doing more hauntings and creepy moments, that results in very little of this feeling decidedly creepy or chilling. Despite the enjoyment of the storylines at work, the film could've really used some more action to downplay the heavy focus on dramatics.

Rated Unrated/R: Violence and Language.

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.

Epitaph is one of those films that can very easily disappoint you when you first watch it. Especially if you expect a Ringu type flick. True, it's beautiful visually, but the storytelling is so complex that it makes you feel that either the directors - and the writer- have lost control over their material, or that you're missing something crucial. Actually, the later is the key. Cause Epitaph is not just a creepy horror flick. It's a beautiful film about LOVE. Love through and beyond life and death. Love is the common theme that connects all those perplexed stories and scenes. Having that in mind, I decided to watch it again and I must say, this time I though I was watching a totally different movie. So, my suggestion to you is this. If you're looking for a clean K-horror flick with ghosts and all the classic Ringu themes, don't watch this one. You'll be very disappointed. However, if you're interested in something more that that, give Epitaph a chance. It may not be the best one out there, but it surely has quite a lot of things to tell you.

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.