Tales of the Unusual Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: An anthology film consisting of four stories from different genres that have some "unusual" plot element fueling them.

Review: This was a much better movie than I was expecting. Actually, considering how original and fun the stories were I'm surprised I had never heard of this one before. There is a certain whimsical tone to the film that is reminiscent of the Twilight Zone, and the "storyteller" is most certainly a nod to Rod Serling. There are four main stories and then the wraparound; the wraparound is nothing special with just a group of stranded individuals at a train station waiting for the rain to stop while a mysterious man in black tells them stories to pass the time. The first story, which is the only horror tale, was the weakest of the bunch. A plane crashes in a mountain and the survivors look for some alleged cabin to stay warm. Along the way they abandon some girl, find this cabin, and go nuts with paranoia and guilt. There are some interesting moments here, but I wanted them to go in a scarier direction. The ending has an okay twist, and I liked how it came full circle with a story the survivors kept telling each other during this segment. The second segment was a comedy mixed with a little sci-fi. I actually found this quite funny as a futuristic company has sent cellphones back in time to historical figures to verify that certain events happened as written. This segment focuses on a samurai and the debate about whether he was super brave or a coward; of course he was actually a coward. As the samurai talks to the other person on the line he inadvertently inspires his men and makes the history he's famous for despite his desire to do nothing but be with his mistress. The third segment, a thriller, is probably the best involving a chess champion who was defeated by an advanced computer shattering his love for the game. Years later, a crazy tycoon wishes to force the former champ out of seclusion to play a game with real consequences. The attention to detail this story goes into to make chess elements stand out in the scenery is amazing. I loved the notion of using people from the champ's real life as victims on his chessboard. The ending is a bit weak, but it made up for it by a truly touching moment between the champ and his wife, his queen. The final tale is just a straight romance with only a faint sci-fi element as a plot device. A couple is planning on getting married and decides to explore something called the "Wedding Simulator" in which scientists use your dna and a psychological profile to imagine how your future will be in a virtual simulator. Of course the couple's life is miserable and since they "experienced" their life, they decide to break up. Lame, I know, but it all comes full circle once again. I was surprised by how touching the couple's reunion turned out to be as they realized they made a mistake. The final twist is that everything we have seen was also apart of the simulation. As this segment ends on a sweet note, we are further left with a happy feeling as the wraparound concludes with a moving statement about storytelling. This is definitely a great film that I think people should check out. Some segments are a little weak, and I wasn't feeling most of the endings. But there is something for everyone here and the stories are original and well acted. Like a lot of the Asian horror movies I watch, it's on youtube for free!

Notable Moment: In the Wedding Simulator tale, the whole circumstance of the couple getting back together. It may come off cheesy to most, but I thought it was heartfelt.

Final Rating: 8/10