Into the Mirror DVD Review:

There are two worlds; the world inside the mirror, and the world outside of it. In the world of the mirror dead people can exist.

The story follows Wu, a once-celebrated detective, now a drunk working as a security guard at his uncle’s department store. His previous experience in detection because a useful skill as employee’s begin to die in mysterious circumstances.

In the beginning the deaths appear to directly follow an immoral act, but as the plot unravels the audience is shown that the immoral act has already
been committed; unfortunately, Kim has decided to spend almost two thirds of the film showing the detection part of his plot, most of the actual deaths
occurring in the first third.

As the title suggests, mirrors are a key element; they’re featured in almost every shot, a suspenseful icon to the audience, who know of the sinister
world contained within. Kim uses these well, often framing them on the outskirts of the frame. Due to the lack of focus each scene is made tenser
through anticipation.

A disused department store is a good location for a horror; it’s vast, empty, man-made and lifeless; a creepy setting just right to create the
atmosphere needed. Kim utilises the idea of sickening unnatural strip-lighting, which he uses to cast various colour-schemes across his sets; often an electric blue or stomach-churning hospital off-green. This adds to the audience’s unease.

Due to this, the film is a little slow-paced. The time isn’t spent adding much substance to the story either, instead Kim uses lots of long shots, I’m
sure to build-up tension, but it doesn’t really work. In the end, it’s difficult to actually find yourself caring.Wu, ironically, is a reflection of how the film is structured; slow, vapid, apathetic.

It seems as though violence and horror films are pouring out of Asia, especially since the international success of Nakata’s Ring. But this one is not really so special. There is nothing in this film which hasn’t been done before. There are very few moments that would make you jump, or very few
moments where you would have a prolonged sense of tension. These are vital in horror.

I have to address the another fundamental of horror which is the way it presents society. Often it is found that a classic horror film will involve a coded portrayal of societies fears, and, I can’t see any of this in Into the Mirror. This leaves it in my eyes as a pretty basic effort. It’s not terrible, but, it’s probably more of an enthusiasts film than anything else.

An average effort. Horror fans only.



Chris Horsnell