NEW to Netflix, Re/Member is a dainty Japanese teen horror about six high schoolers stuck in a murderous time loop.
These rather squeaky and peppy teenagers – who are as irritating as those untiring characters on children’s favourite Peppa Pig – must find the scattered remains of an unknown child to break the curse and finally see another day.
The plot does sound overly familiar doesn’t it?
Well, that’s because you’ve seen it countless times. Unfortunately though, there’s nothing here we haven’t seen before. Think Happy Death Day without the satire, breezy storyline, and fresh take on an already exhausted horror trope.
Anyone who has ever sat through equally tiresome time loop capers, like Haunter or Salvage, will know exactly what they are getting into.
Still, even though it continues an already vicious circle of such repetitive drivel, Eiichiro Hasumi’s film is particularly grating, mostly as it all feels so infantile and bubbly.
Despite being murdered numerous times, and faced with repeating the same hellish experience over and over every day, these kids have a real spring in their step. They make Up with People look like the cast of Eastenders.
It’s just not natural!
Hasumi borrows from every facet of J-horror films to create a real hodgepodge, but sadly it’s anything but engaging. It just feels lazy.
In almost every frame you can pick out where the director has taken inspiration from. The Ring, The Grudge, Tag, they are all referenced, to the point that he has opted instead to leave his own party tricks at home.
I suggest you go watch the films of Hideo Nakata, Takashi Shimizu, or Takashi Miike rather than this pale imitation.
Round and round we go here on a merry go round that’s no fun at all, except for the overly zealous young cast, obviously!
(2/5)
