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Review

It has the trappings of an urban legend: there's a mysterious tape out there that looks like a Bergman Kabuki film; after watching it, you get a frightening phone call and have but one week to live. But some kids have watched it and died of fright, sending the reporter aunt of one victim, ex-husband in tow, to get to the bottom of it all. Naturally, they watch the tape and get the call, giving them seven days to lift the curse. This extremely effective horror film relies on a constant atmosphere of dread, and the suspense builds with each viewing of the tape, which seems to run a little longer as the days progress. The mood is punctuated by occasional violent shocks, which are far removed from the false scares in most American horror films, and the ultimate climax is unforgettable. Incidentally, this is the rare film that's scarier if you watch it on tape instead of DVD. (Remade in 2002) (Japanese with English subtitles)