Reviews

Shutter

Not scary and a measly PG-13

By BRETT MICHEL | March 25, 2008

1.5 Stars

Joshua Jackson

How frightening is this? A vengeful spirit begins turning up in pictures taken by a pair of newlyweds, ruining many a wedding and honeymoon photo. For the wife, I guess, this could be pretty traumatic, but for the husband? Well, if he’s a professional photographer like Ben Shaw (Joshua Jackson), whose livelihood is dependent on producing apparition-free shots, it’s enough to produce cold sweats. But is there more to what’s happening than Ben is letting on to Jane (Rachael Taylor)? Set in Tokyo and helmed by a Japanese director (Masayuki Ochiai), this American remake of a 2004 Thai horror movie is not your usual redo of a superior Asian chiller. Still, a PG-13 rating doesn’t portend many scary moments. Not to mention that if a sexy specter (Ju-on: The Grudge’s Megumi Okina) suddenly appeared in my apartment wagging a foot-long tongue, an X rating would be more appropriate. 85 minutes | Boston Common + Fenway + Fresh Pond + Chestnut Hill + suburbs

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ARTICLES BY BRETT MICHEL

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Eighty-five-year-old Jiro, with his unchanging expression and bald pate, resembles a wizened turtle. Leaving home at age 9 and forced to fend for himself, he would become the world's greatest sushi chef.