This sounds like a game show, doesn’t it? “OK, audience surveyed. The spectre is behind one of these three panels … SHOW ME THE GHOST!” Unfortunately, writing that sentence was more fun than anything this movie had to offer.
The sad part is that this may well be my most enjoyable one-star film of the year. I didn’t dislike leads or the premise or the direction or the cinematography. It’s still a one star film. There’s just no getting around that. Show Me the Ghost was cute, but had nothing to offer. Zilch. Zero. Nada. 아무것도 아님. (Nothing in Korean) The basic story is two long term friends share a haunted house. The ghost isn’t scary or malevolent, so the kids overact to sell it.
Ye-ji (Seung-Yeon Han) is at her wit’s end; she’s burned through chances and money in her attempt to pass a civil servant exam and advance to the next stage of life. Luckily, she knows where a bunch of her money went: her pal Ho-doo (Kim Hyun-Mok). He used it to rent a house, cheap! As Ye-ji never got the housing she anticipated, this kinda works out, no?
Except here’s the thing: the house has a ghost. And the ghost likes to poke and prod and occasionally disturb. That’s about it. I was into Show Me the Ghost right up to the moment they showed me the ghost. Honestly? Best way to handle this ghost is: “Can you put a lid on it? I’m trying to sleep.”
Problem #1 is the effects are weak, so it’s hard to buy ghost menace
Problem #2 is the script is weak, and the film thinks it’s a comedy, so overreaction becomes
order of the day
Problem #3 is the acting is weak. Much as I did like Ye-ji and Ho-doom, this film often feels like a student project.
And this is before the plot problems arise.
I actually feel a little bad panning Show Me the Ghost; it was the only Korean selection among the HIFF Spring take-home package. I’m among the few North American people who can name a Korean film not directed by Bong Joon Ho, but that didn’t mean squat for Show Me the Ghost. I can report that at 82 minutes, at least the ghost -once shown- didn’t stick around too long.
Goodness sakes, I think I have a ghost
But I see your actions won’t keep me engrossed
Think I’m gonna tarry
Cuz you just ain’t that scary
My future is less exorcism than a roast
Not Rated, 82 Minutes
Director: Eun-Kyoung Kim
Writer: Eun-Kyoung Kim
Genre: Funny? Scary? Except it was neither
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Korean ghosts
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Horror fans
