Apartment 1303 – DVD Review

Film, Reviews

Available at Amazon.com

Director

Ataru Oikawa

Cast

Eriko Hatsune
Yuka Itaya
Naoko Otani
Arata Furuta Detective

DVD Release Date: October 23, 2007
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 94 Minutes

The Movie

Sayaka is a young girl that is out on her own and has recently moved into a brand new apartment. She decides to throw a little housewarming party so everyone can see her new place and it can be broken in as her home. For some unknown reason though, Sayaka throws herself off the balcony at her party and plummets to her death. Her sister Mariko is extremely distraught but wants to find out what exactly made Sayaka take her own life.

Mariko begins investigating into her sister’s death and soon finds out some shocking secrets about apartment 1303. Not only have numerous people died in the apartment, but the past few tenants over recent years have all committed suicide. Mariko learns that a mother and daughter once died in the apartment and they may actually still be living there in spirit and want it all to themselves.

You’ve seen it. You’ve seen it. Trust me, you’ve seen it. There is a female ghost with long hair. There is a mysterious secret that someone must figure out because they lost a loved one. There is an apartment that is apparently haunted, the police don’t want to believe it, and in the end there’s a big (and I say that loosely) twist. As has already been said, I’m done defending Japanese Horror for not being original because not a single one is original anymore. It’s honestly almost as if they are purposely copying the last film they saw and slapping different name on it.

Apartment 1303 is just as not scary as it is new and exciting. All the fear that may be brought forth from the film is taken away because you can already come to expect everything that happens. Most people that happen to see it will compare it to The Grudge (Ju-On) or The Ring (Ringu) because they haven’t seen a great amount of J-Horror. Believe me when I say that if you’ve seen one then you’ve seen them all.

The Video

The film is shown in 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen format and isn’t too bad. Most of the film is in darkness as with most Japanese horror, but there appeared to be a bit of a haze throughout parts of the film. Considering it didn’t happen at all times, I’m guessing the filmmakers purposely did it, but it ended up being more annoying then mood-setting.

The Audio

The film is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and as always with Tartan, there were no real problems. Sound effects and the music were really good and never too loud while the dialogue could be heard clearly at all times, but no real matter since there are subtitles. And best of all, the subtitles are timed up perfectly with the on screen talking.

Special Features

Photo Gallery – Stills from the film and a few behind the scenes’ shots. Nothing too exciting.

Original Theatrical Trailer

TrailersThe Heirloom, The Ghost, Carved, Silk, Arang, and Shutter

The Inside Pulse

Just don’t bother and go out to get one of the other numerous J-Horror films that are similar, but at least better then this. There are barely any special features and with good reason; the film is lousy. One thing I don’t understand and perhaps it is different in Japan then it is here in the States, but don’t landlords have to let new tenants know that someone died in an apartment or home? If so and you found out at least five to ten people died or committed suicide in an apartment, would you still take it? Hell, you couldn’t get me to live there even with grandfather-claused rent control.

The DVD Lounge’s Ratings for Apartment 1303
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
THE MOVIE

2
THE VIDEO

6
THE AUDIO

7.5
THE EXTRAS

2
REPLAY VALUE

1
OVERALL
2
(NOT AN AVERAGE)