------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall Rating : 7.5/10
Directed By : Melanie Ansley
Celeste Barry
Frances Marrington
George Ivanoff
Katrina J. Kiely
Supplied By : Scopofile
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Mar. 7, 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| PLOT Tess Hooper is a diligent and earnest cinema studies student, haunted by a shameful incident from her past. One by one Tess's friends end up brutally murdered after opening the "Watch Me" email, a file that spreads through electronic address books to seek its next victim. All murders bear the same traits: a red-headed woman in a yellow dress, an internet connection, the victims' eyes sewn shut. As Tess becomes the next target in line, she finds herself seeking answers from Taku, an illegal film dealer with the unsavory nickname of "freak boy" and the moral integrity of a rattlesnake. But showing up voluntarily at Taku's lair, Tess finds herself in even more danger than when she was on her own. If the two can survive each other, they may just be able to live through this deadly email. As the clock ticks and the body count mounts, the two must untangle the puzzle to stop "Watch Me" from its poisonous rampage. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| THE REVIEW WATCH ME, a film that was independently shot partly in both Beijing, China and Melbourne Australia, is one low on budget, but high on imagination as Director Melanie Ansley brilliantly and seamlessly blends many different styles to create a film that is unique in it's own right. In the film it just so happens that there have been a number of mysterious deaths occurring in the area, and the only thing connecting each case is that each one of the victims had opened an email attachment that contained an .AVI video - the video entitled 'Watch me' depicts a pornographic scene in which a young woman being beaten and murdered....it's viewers suffering the same deadly fate. Coincidently in another part of town college friends Jill and Tess are to do a thesis and their subject....voyeurism and those who watch such acts as shown in the "Watch Me video. The girls know little to nothing on the subject in which they are writing except for what the local underground porn salesman had told and given to them - but when Jill unknowingly receives and opens the dreaded 'Watch Me' file she ends up dead at the hands of a mysterious woman whom dons a head of bright red hair and a pale complexion. Jill's death suddenly brings the subject that was once so distant to the forefront of Tess' life as she tries to uncover the mystery behind the 'Watch Me file. Not even Police officials nor a friend can help Tess as they also receive the spam email and mistakenly view it sending the strange woman into action killing those who continue to watch. When Tess confronts the porn expert Taku about the file, he explains that the file is very rare and that he has never seen anyone who has it(at least anyone alive that is). He offers to buy the file from Tess to add to further his collection of sleaze, but when she refuses to do so for his own safety and he becomes quite upset and thus leads to a confrontation in which he forces Tess to watch the video - the 'red-headed stranger appears, stalks but then does not kill which leads Taku to confess that he too has watched and without giving it away the two must figure out why it is that they are still alive after they watched a clip that has killed so many.... While watching WATCH ME, one will be quick to realize that the film as taken certain inspiration from a few successful Asian and Italian films. In preparation to make their Horror film debut, writers Melanie Ansley, and Sam Voutas(as explained on the Scopofile website) watched and examined a ton of Asian and Italian imported films, and it is very evident in their final product. Not only does WATCH ME's main plot point take note from RINGU/THE RING as the victims all connect through viewing a certain material (in this case it differs in being via an internet attachment and not a videotape) but the films evil subject is pale, stiff with long flowing hair, much like the subject in JU-ON/THE GRUDGE. I myself have always enjoyed films in which a killer in a Horror flick can viciously kill someone and feel little or no remorse and perhaps demonstrating such by humming a song or two (ala Angela in SLEEPAWAY CAMP as he/she shamelessly holds and pets the severed head of the boy that once caught her eye). In WATCH ME our mysterious killer is such an individual, she travels via various sources of water(which for some reason reminded me of DARK WATER a little.....don't know why) she kills the unsuspecting victim and the later sews their eyelids shut (to punish one for watching, one would assume).....while humming a catchy tune. Although "Sadie" as mannerisms and a slight likeness to Kayako of THE GRUDGE (minus the striking red hair) this was one difference that made the character that much cooler and memorable. It is definitely fair to say that WATCH ME is one the same level of quality as far as entertainment goes than any of the Asian remakes that have been released as of late, is it takes a general idea that has already existed and puts it's own twist on it to create a frightful tale all it's own. The reason I enjoy the independent films for the most part is because for once it isn't money controlling a project - since most of the time a big budget isn't available for the filmmaker they have no choice but to make up for what they lack, with a great story and imagination. WATCH ME is such a story that is so carefully crafted, using simple but effective make-up, slick camera angles and a sometimes chilling score to create an atmosphere that proves in the end to be priceless. One thing is for sure about Director Melanie Ansley, and that is she is very confident in her work. Usually when I receive a film that was independently shot such as this one, the Directors or etc. who send them to me want only one thing and that is for me to hand them a positive review for their film - which is so evident when they don't reply kindly to my negative review, or worse not at all, essentially dismissing the time I spent to review the said film. In this case I was asked for my honest opinion and that is what I have given - WATCH ME is one impressive showing in independent filmmaking with an entertainment value well beyond it's budget. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| GORE
METER 3.5/10 Not a lot of gore is found in WATCH ME, we do have the sewn eye lids and at one time a severed hand....all is done practically and sparingly but at the same time still very effective. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| MUSICAL
SCORE 5.5/10 Very effective scoring put down by Jericho, Huf and Preuss, the main them is kind of up beat and ultra-catchy while the remaining provide a spooky overtone for the film |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM I really enjoyed WATCH ME as the story was both interesting and intriguing - unlike most independent features the films pacing was smooth and it's content never seemed to die down or get dull. Sure this is inspired by many other films, but it has it's own genuine feel to it that ultimately sets it apart from those that influence it. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| STILLS | ||||
|
