4K Review: SHUTTER (2004)

When I was a kid, I thought the worst thing you could do was accidentally flick the rewind switch on your mother’s camera, wasting all that unused film. Turns out that’s one of life’s lesser concerns, but as the old saying goes, “a picture says a thousand words”, which is more than the case in Shutter, the original Thai horror classic. – Available now on 4K Ultra HD from Umbrella Entertainment for the first time worldwide!

Upon returning home from a wedding, young photographer Tun and his girlfriend Jane run over a girl, but quickly leave the scene in panic. In the days following the event, Tun begins to notice strange anomalies in photographs and ghostly apparitions that appear when gazing through his lens.

Nowadays, most of us carry around the ability to take photos at will, thanks to our smartphones, but before the digital age of photography took hold, the act of taking a picture was more reserved for special occasions and hobbies. Capturing a precise moment in time and perfect detail, carried with it an almost magic quality, which is perhaps why it’s been the catalyst for many supernatural events in horror movies. Is the humble camera a device that can, for a split second, pierce the veil between reality and the “other side”?

Shutter is not the first movie to run with this eerie notion, but it does so in the most terrifying and effective way possible, with quirky editing and visuals that work on a subliminal level. As the image-based spectre haunts our protagonist, it becomes apparent that there’s more to this restless spirit than Tun is willing to let on. Upon the realisation that both Tun and Jane are haunted by a malevolent force, an investigation into the “why” gets underway, unlike in Hollywood horror, where the first reaction would be denial. There’s an almost unspoken acceptance of their plight, and together they look into the country’s spiritual and religious culture for guidance and answers.

Without going into spoilers, Shutter is highly metaphoric in its portrayal of the unbearable weight of guilt and being haunted by the mistakes of one’s past, which adds a lot of emotional drama outside of the film’s traditional horror elements. I found it more frightening this time round, which I attribute to this new edition. Whereas my first viewing several years ago was my introduction to Thai cinema, which was followed by a delicious meal at an authentic local restaurant. Shout-out to Zaab Zaab in Traralgon, Victoria.

SPECIAL FEATURES

NEW! World premiere 4K HDR feature
NEW! Critical Audio Commentary with Pierce Conran and James Marsh
NEW! Interview with Directors Parkpoom Wongpoom and Banjong Pisanthanakun
NEW! Interview with Writer and Director Sophon Sakdaphisit
NEW! Shadows Out of Asia: Shutter and the Asian Horror Boom by Travis Johnson
Behind the Scenes of Shutter
Stills Gallery
Trailer

With such a prestige release for Shutter’s 4K debut, it’s only fitting that Umbrella have commissioned some exclusive special features for this release. For interviews, co-directors Parkpoom Wongpoom and Banjong Pisanthanakun sit down to discuss the ups and downs of their collaboration, and what it was like to helm one of Thailand’s biggest horror films in their early 20s. Running much shorter, an interview with the film’s screenwriter, Sophon Sakdaphisit, sheds light on some of the changes made before and after Shutter’s production.

For a deep dive into Shutter’s making-of, which also includes important background context of how ghosts tie into Thailand’s culture, be sure to listen to Pierce Conran and James Marsh’s commentary. However, those with less time to spare can check out the “Shadow’s Out of Asia…” video essay by Travis Johnson for a more condensed overview of Shutter’s cultural and cinematic inspirations. – by Hannah Lynch

VIDEO AND AUDIO

Umbrella has commissioned what I hope goes down as one of this year’s best 4K releases. HDR is often subject to mixed opinions among physical media enthusiasts, but it’s definitely an advantage to Shutter. Presented in 1.77.1 (HDR10 2160P), it’s an intense image at times, that’s very bright, but not over-exposed. There are decent black levels, although at times the brightness does tend to give a slightly washed-out look. Overall, it’s an impressive result that gives new life to this twenty-year-old staple in foreign horror. Disc authored by Fidelity in Motion.

Optional tracks in 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio offer incredible quality that really gives an extra kick to those jump scares. Dialogue volume does not rest on that frustratingly low level; that’s all too common these days. It’s very loud, which makes those agonising screams more jarring. English subtitles are included.

Shutter is also available in a Collector’s Edition, currently priced at $80, that comes with the usual physical extras from Umbrella, including an A3 reversible poster. You can purchase a copy online via the website.

SHUTTER
(2004, director: Banjong Pisanthanakun & Parkpoom Wongpoom)