Last year, between the two of us, we watched an average of 317 movies.
This year our goal is to top that by watching at least one a day.
And as an extra special torture, we've decided to write about all of them.

25 April 2008

The Tattooist, dir. Peter Burger (2007)

NIKKI says:
Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. This was, after all, on a preview disc with Children of the Corn IV. It was a fun surprise, then, to discover an engaging movie.

The rundown is this: Jake Sawyer travels the world learning various forms of tattooing. In Singapore, he encounters Samoan tatau, which looks like it really fucking kills. He's into it, so much so that he carelessly steals a tatau tool. Little does he know, that tool was used in a tatau gone wrong, and when Jake accidentally stabs himself with it, a spirit is released that torments and kills anyone Jake's hand tattoos.

Of course, Jake only realises there's a problem after he gives his new girlfriend (Sina, one of the tatau artists) a lotus flower on her back.

Weird premise, yeah, but it was actually handled with great sophistication. The characters were intriguing, there was some classy writing going on (particularly the banter between Jake and the girlfriend), and the horror was genuinely affecting. As was the emotional ending involving the spirit in a mirror. I was simultaneously creeped out and on the verge of tears -- something about beauty and horror, blood and art, and all the juicy contradictions tattooing evokes.

A good film, about a fascinating subject, with some really awesome New Zealand actors (and Jason Behr, who was also very cool).

3.5/5