Warning: Do Not Play Review

 

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: A rising director, desperate for ideas, investigates rumors of a film supposedly created by a ghost.

Review: This could--no, should--have been better. The basic premise is interesting and held near endless potential for scares. Unfortunately, the ball is severely dropped somewhere around two-thirds of the way into the movie. There are three, central plot beats to the overall story and each is unexplored and structured weakly. Likewise, there are numerous other films that "Warning" draws inspiration from, and, yet, the filmmakers did not capitalize on what came before; forget about improving on said ideas. Hell, the characters even discuss seeing "The Exorcist" as this life-altering moment and that never amounts to anything nor acknowledged ever again.

First, I want to say the main character (not her actress) looks, and dresses, a lot like a girl I used to date. Scary. Anyway...what is working here? As mentioned, the story line about the director looking for ideas, stumbling across this tale of a movie that killed people at a screening, and a ghost being the creator--this is all good stuff. The first 30-40 minutes provide an intriguing setup and make the audience want to see this movie so scary that it's been banned, turned almost into an urban legend, killed people, and is such an evil force that the director of the movie scans the internet to make sure no one posts even a clip from it. Yes, it's supposed to be that intense. To the credit of "Warning," the hype is presented well and pulls the viewer in. Other than the ideas at hand, the technical aspects are decent enough--solid cinematography, acting, and music. I wish I could say more positives, because this isn't a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination.

Okay, how did the filmmakers fail with such an easy layup? The biggest offense is that the haunted movie itself is nothing more than the director filming his crew before and during their deaths to the ghost. That's it? That's the best the writer could come up with? Bro, why the fuck was anyone losing their mind during the initial screening then?! This ain't "Cigarette Burns" here! Don't even get me started on the lame ass ghost. Not only is she obscured the entire time (probably because her makeup effect was shite!), but we know absolutely nothing about her or why she'd want to help that director make a movie. So, she's--what--dollar store Sadako? And this ghost spent all of 10 seconds messing with the director before he went crazy and decided he was okay with his crew dying? Am I missing something? The entire third act makes little to no sense since the main chick did not even watch the full ghost movie, and she decides to let her friend die...why exactly? And then the ending scene implies that the main chick is possessed or something? What? We get little backstory on the main chick other than some vague abuse and attempt at suicide, we get jackshit on the director and his crew other than they're film students, and we get fucking no backstory on the ghost other than she died on set! Oh, gee, wow, thanks for such insights. Actually, the thing that probably aggravated me the most was yet another instance where there's a shadow on the wall in the shape of the ghost and it doesn't come to life! Why do filmmakers keep doing this if they aren't going to actually deliver on this scare?!

Needless to say, "Warning" is a major disappointment. It's not bad--don't get me wrong--but man, oh man, the potential was sitting right there and somehow it was squandered. The first half especially is exciting, and it's why I'm even angrier that that the movie fails to deliver, not only the goods, but a proper execution of its premise. Sure, the movie is competently put together, but I can't go beyond a middling rating given the levels of disappointment, the stupid ending, and how little ends up being explained or even addressed in a satisfactory manner. If you're still somehow curious about watching this despite my gripes, check it out, but most definitely keep your expectations in check.

Notable Moment: In the opening sequence when Mi-jung is chased out of the movie theater. This was a nice way to start things, but, realistically, why was Mi-jung dreaming about the ghost before even learning about her existence?! Plot hole?

Final Rating: 5.5/10