Search - Premonition on DVD

Jefferson N. from BLAIRSVILLE, GA
Reviewed on 12/9/2011...

Premonition is a Japanese film about a teacher who stops at a payphone on the way back from a family trip so he could download his work to his office. His impatience leads to a truck careening out of nowhere and smashing into his car and killing his daughter. A few seconds before, though, a newspaper appears in the booth with him detailing the accident. Years later, his marriage has failed and he is staggering through his life. One of his students begins to have the same thing happen to her...A newspaper article warns of her death...and the cycle begins again. Can the man pull his life together and find the secret of these newspapers of doom from the future? Will he try to prevent the calamities he sees? Or will he just try to forget? This is a very powerful movie that asks the question: "If you can see the future, should you change it? And what will be the consequences?" It's a well-made film and has plenty of those "jumps" you expect to see in a Japanese horror film. Although, this one isn't so much horror as it is a tale of damnation and redemption. Sometimes the pacing is a little off, so you really have to involve yourself or you will lose track of what's going on. But, all in all, it's a great, sad movie. If you liked the Butterfly Effect, you'll live this one.

3 of 4 member(s) found this review helpful.

Fear Newspaper

Arthur Kicker | Your Mom's House | 07/23/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lions Gate Films recently cut a deal with a Japanese company and created a small sub-division within LGF aptly named J-Horror. The purpose of this division was to make 6 Japanese horror flicks specifically for the American DVD market. 'Premonition' is one of the first of these films released(the second, released simultaneously, is called 'Infection' and is also very much worth checking out).



The basic set-up goes like this: a couple and their daughter are driving home from a vacation. They stop along side the road at a telephone booth so the husband can attach his laptop to the phoneline so he could email some paperwork to his job. While in the phone booth, he finds a newspaper clipping that predicts his daughter dying in a motor vehicle accident. His wife exits the car to talk to him. Once the wife is out of the car, the husband freaks out over the newspaper, but before he can do anyting a dumptruck smashes their car(with daughter still inside)and the newspaper disappears. The car immediately explodes killing the little girl. Not long after, the couple divorces mostly due to the wife not believing her husband's claims about the newspaper. The husband starts receiving more newspapers predicting the future over the next six or so years and all the while the wife(now his ex)is doing research into the paranormal and the possible existence of this newspaper. The couple gets back together to try and figure out the escalating events...



'Premonition' is based on a thirty-or-so year old Japanese story called 'The Fear Newspaper'. Apparently over there, its pretty well known . Anyways, the acting is good and the special effects are very well done. The plot, while having some similarites to 'Ringu'(especially the original novel by Koji Suzuki), is pretty interesting. The ending, as Asian horror films tend to do, leave you feeling slightly confused. 'Premonition' though doesn't leave you hanging as badly as some others. The extras on the disc are actually pretty good. They're all subtitled, with the best feature being the one on visual effects. Its very interesting.



All in all, 'Premonition' is a nice little addition to any Asian horror fan's collection. Its a nice, tense, well-acted little film. While not completely original, its still a good flick. There's not really any gore to speak of; this is pretty textbook J-horror. If you dug 'Ringu' or 'Juon', I'm sure you will like 'Premonition'.

"

More of a supernatural drama/thriller than a horror flick, b

Scott | Los Angeles | 06/21/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Personally, I really enjoyed Premonition. It's got solid acting, a fascinating (and often heart-wrenching) story, and some decent scares. However, don't expect an all out fright fest or you'll be sorely disappointed. This is a story-driven film, with a plot that progresses fairly slowly. Patience is necessary when viewing Premonition, as is a willingness to accept ambiguity and dream-like logic in a film. But for those of you who possess those qualities, and are looking for something a little different (particularly if you're a fan of the genre), Premonition might be for you."

Good solid horror movie

Anthony Richards | Wash DC | 11/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this movie was more on the lines of thriller...but it was very good and very entertaining...a few scarry jump parts....but overall...i have to say it should deff be among the top asain horrors"