Change Your Image
vmorda
Reviews
Kuchisake-onna (2007)
A different J-Horror
Carved is different from most Asian horror flicks in the regard that the story doesn't become overly convoluted and confusing, yet at the same time, it does little to add complexity to the explanation or back story of the Slit-Mouthed Woman. Essentially a really evil person dies, so naturally their ghost continues to have the same actions of the person that they once were. If you can go into this movie accepting this fact, and not with the mentality of expecting something smart or challenging from the story, then you should easily enjoy this.
With that said, this is indeed another norm of the Asian horror genre, "vengeful ghost girl." However the concept of the ghost, and the urban legend revolving around it (which is based on a real legend), does feel fresh and unique. The main selling point of the Slit-Mouthed Woman's motif is that she specifically targets children with overly sized scissors. Which naturally makes for perfect, innocent victims in this film, as they are easy to sympathize for. Carved is not shy in having the kiddies get hurt or killed. I wouldn't say the visual execution of such is excessive any way, but the idea of it may be too disturbing for some viewers. So if you're sensitive to the idea of child abuse (which this film's story is primarily based on) or seeing a corpse of a kid, then avoid watching this. Though I feel that this reason alone is what makes Carved successful as a genuine horror flick. Unlike American slasher films, where horny teenagers make stupid decisions quickly and you ultimately we care less about what happens to them in the end (not to say that there isn't some merit in that).
The main characters are as interesting just as well, as Matsuzaki was once a victim of child abuse, and Yamashita was regretfully an abusive mother herself. So there is motivation for their characters to stop the Slit-Mouthed Woman from kidnapping and harming another little tot, while over coming their own, personal conflicts.
With a visually grotesque and interesting antagonist (regardless of having a nonsensical weakness and catch phrase, that is more related to the actual legend then the movie's character), I can't help but to recommend this for those who feel tired with most Asian horror flicks and are looking for something different.