Bloody Reunion: To sir, with hate.

Reviewer: James van Maanen
Rating (out of 5): ***½ (lower it a notch or two if you're not a fan of "slasher" flicks)

Generally I avoid most slasher flicks, except the occasional Hostel or Wolf Creek that causes a blip on the cultural radar and might be worth a look--if only to ascertain what the noise is all about. (It usually pertains to newer and more "creative" levels of violence, and hell, why do we need that, now that we've got Iraq?) I took a chance on Bloody Reunion and--surprise--I am now recommending it to you. Directed with welcome economy and speedy pacing by Dae-wung Lim and written with a terrific understanding of concept, organization and follow-through by Se-yeol Park (smart, talented first-timers), the movie begins at the scene of a bloody mass murder, backtracks to how it all came about and ends with a surprise you'll have figured out far in advance--and then fools you as it proceeds apace.

The main event is a reunion of her elementary school pupils with their much beloved (or maybe not) teacher, and while the movie appears to me to have been shot on video and given a not-so-sterling transfer, never mind that: It works, providing chills and suspense, welcome surprises and gore enough (on which, thankfully, the director does not dwell--he shows us, we gasp, and he moves right on). Whatever deficiencies were in the budget--this appears to be an inexpensively-made movie--the talented and (except for the teacher) young cast more than makes up for it. There is plenty of moment-to-moment, highly believable work from everyone, with each actor creating a surprisingly full character with just a few, smart strokes. Above all, it's the theme of relatively subtle childhood abuse of students by their teacher that makes this more than a mere "slash-fest." The director and writer may steal moments and ideas from Psycho to Carrie and onwards, but they do it with such economy and wit that your realization of the thefts as you speed along should just add to your pleasure. If I slightly overrate this little movie, it is due to my surprise at being so cleverly entertained in a genre of which I am not usually a fan.