Kaidan

Hideo Nakata, director of the original "Ringu" and "Dark Water," returned to Japanese cinema (after his frustrated Hollywood sojourn) with this remake of the classic ghost story. It's a gorgeous period piece, more about mood and visual eeriness than horror or startles, and Nakata turns what could be a straight revenge film into an ambiguous tale of jealousy and revenge from beyond the grave. What's missing is the sense of fate, powerful forces of poetic justice or emotional spirits behind these terrible crimes. Nakata was once a master at easing audiences into the states of helplessness and confusion suffered by his characters, but he is too removed to give us an emotional stake in this story. Japanese with English subtitles. No supplements.