Derek Childs (totalovrdose)
Motivation - this is one notion I kept thinking about after the film's completion: what were the creator's motivations behind the development of this movie, while at the same time, what was motivating Mi-ju (Hyeon-a Seong), the lead character, the directionality of her decisions been difficult to fathom, although I, at the same time, could postulate my own personal speculations. The film however never openly reveals 'she is doing this because...', leaving much room for an audience to contemplate.By the end, Cello feels like a movie we have seen before, combining themes and ideas present in films like Wishing Stairs and Sometimes They Come Back, along with an assortment of unique and stereotypical genre tropes. The scares that are present are less of the 'jump' variety, and more of the 'gasp', the film never officially terrifying its audience. At the same time though, Cello is depressingly disturbing, not so much in its ambiance, but in its content, possessing a similarity to a Greek Tragedy.The films begins with Mi-ju in a bloodied state in hospital. We can assume she has recently experienced a traumatic car crash from the indicative blurb, though, can we be sure? Cello is a lot like a compass. If 'north' led towards the most logical and cognitive plot, then Cello points everywhere else for the majority of the feature, causing the viewer to think deeply about what is happening, the answers that are slowly provided occasionally having the rug pulled out from under them, forcing the audience to again wonder what is happening. In this sense, the narrative progression of the feature cannot entirely be trusted, which acts as an intellectual stimulus.After experiencing something horrific, which is slowly revealed over the course of the story, Mi-ju now works as a Cello instructor. In her spare time, she connects with her family: her husband Jun-ki (Ho-bin Jeong), her autistic daughter Yoon-jin (Ji-eun Choi), her youngest daughter Yoon-hye (Ji-hye Jin), and her sister in law Kyeong-ran (Bit-na Wang). Not long into the movie, Mi-ju buys Yoon-jin a cello which she fancies while at the shops, and her husband hires Ji-sook, a silent and mysterious housekeeper.It initially proves difficult to decipher what of the many changes in Mi-ju's life is the catalyst that eventually leads to a malevolent presence invading her life, and that of her family. However, if she doesn't figure out what is happening, and soon, she may not have any family left. A story of love, family, jealousy, betrayal and revenge, Cello is a film that shows behind every smile is a past, as haunting as it is unforgettable, and though we might be able to leave our past behind, sometimes, it doesn't want to leave us.
Vincent
There is nothing new or interesting here, the plot is a mix of clichés with the twists being predictable and no suspense built up.There is the question of who is causing the problems but all the main candidates are dismissed so quickly they might as well not have been there.The acting is mixed, Hyeon-a Seong is good as the lead but Da-an Park is poor as the friend in the flashback sequences.Far from improving things the final twist seems desperate and pathetic, the last cliché of a writer with no ideas.Barely watchable, instantly forgettable.
Scott Baldwin (Meven_Stoffat)
Actually, checking the "spoiler" box was a tad bit of an oxymoron. There's nothing to spoil really. And actually, right now I'm sitting at my desktop with a dumb, moronic facial expression, wondering what I should type...Instead I'll just go over what this movie has:Mysterious bedtime ghost visitations (The Grudge)? Check. Mysterious Marie-Antoinette-esquire Decor (Strange Circus)? Check. Mysterious haunted recording devices? (The Ring)? Check. Mysterious Long Haired Female Ghosts? Check, though I'm surprised there aren't two of them, which means DOUBLE the aggravation... oh wait... Mysteruious scary noises made by female long haired female ghosts (The Grudge)? Check. Myaterious distorted pictures (the Ring)? Check. Mysterious hands (The Grudge)? Check. Mysterious False endings (The Ring)? Double check.In short, just watch the above movies instead and keep far away from this fragmented craporama.
kakoilija
Boring characters in the beginning.Production value is good... but lack of true disturbing horror.Oh but some nice looking girls... I'd almost pay to get into their pants.I wonder if she was on mescaline? I bet I would have enjoyed this one more if had taken some LSD.If you are a true horror fan skip this one. Although she did have a cute dog.Maeby for this movie could work for teenagers... but I have watched the sickest stuff there is...CONCLUSION: Seen worse, but you won't be missing anything. Nothing new... maybe if you are wimp, or metro-sexual you might find this interesting showing.
