The Tattooist (2007)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Peter Burger

Writers:

Matthew Grainger (writer)
Jonathan King (writer)

Release Date:

29 November 2007 (Singapore)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Evil in ink.

Plot:

A young artist unknowingly plays a role in releasing a deadly spirit as he attempts to learn tatau, the Samoan tradition of tattooing.

Plot Keywords:

Singapore | Male Rear Nudity | New Zealand | Samoa | Ghost House Underground

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Jason Behr	...	Jake Sawyer
Mia Blake	...	Sina
David Fane	...	Mr. Va'a
Robbie Magasiva	...	Alipati
Caroline Cheong	...	Victoria
Michael Hurst	...	Crash
Nathaniel Lees	...	Mr. Perenese
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Bach	...	Lazlo McFadden
Timothy Balme	...	Jake's Father
Chen Bangzhi	...	Luke
Jarred Blakiston	...	Young Jake Sawyer
Alison Bruce	...	Charge Nurse
Stuart Devenie	...	Senior Doctor
Isabella Galluzzo	...	Chanel
Pip Hall	...	Third Nurse
Lauren Jackson	...	Triage Nurse
Matthew Ridge	...	Graham
Trevor Sai Louie	...	Uncle Ken
Allison Strickett	...	Second Nurse
Aleni Tufuga	...	Peni
Andy Wong	...	Expo Customer
Helene Wong	...	Aunt Suzy

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, disturbing images, language and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

New Zealand:92 min | Argentina:92 min

Country:

New Zealand | Singapore

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

New Zealand:R13 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Australia:MA (2008) | USA:R | Malaysia:18PL | Argentina:18 | UK:18 (re-cut) | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Eyeworks Touchdown

Movie Connections:

References The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)

Thoughtful horror that moves at a measured pace

I am guessing that a lot of the low ratings have more to do with the fact that this movie does not immediately start splattering the audience with buckets of blood and splitting your ears with crescendoing screams.

This movie is NOT following the normal Hollywood script. There's no "Oh yeah-there's the Monster" There's no parade of "Oh Yeah, the A-hole is gonna get it"

This is Horror from the Suspense side of the formula. It's a story of a Guy who does something wrong in the pursuit of his art. And something is unleashed in return. Consequences and collisions occur in the context of a different continent and its own cultures and messy histories.

No, it's not a DEEP movie, but it's an interesting departure from the usual fare. Nor is it a non-stop splatterfest.

Watch this when you're in the right mood-- somewhere in the middle where you just want a good movie to fill the time and give you a story from a different place besides Hollywood.