Facets/Tidepoint Pictures

I’m a sucker for anthologies. Among my favorites are Creepshow, Tales from the Crypt 1972, Trilogy of Terror, Three and Three Extremes. I must own at least twenty or twenty-five more. This ghostly anthology doesn’t have any truly standout stories on the level of Dumplings from Three Extremes but for a made for TV production this Malaysian anthology has a lot to offer, most notably a character/idea driven approach to the writing. This is short form horror done thoughtfully and on a budget with the occasional jump and manages not to suffer for lack of loud “Boos!”

All the segments are set in Kuala Lumpur during the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival during which participants keep an eye open for ghosts allowed to escape from purgatory. Each of the four segments is directed by a different young talent, and each takes advantage of the source material to forge a distinct looking project. The visually down to the bone feel of 1413 brings forth unexpected chills out of its mundane visual landscape telling the story of a suicide pact that has an unexpected outcome. And in the best episode Anybody Home obsession move from mere madness into cosmic chaos as a young women finds that she cannot escape the attentions of a persistent lover. Two weaker entries trade a little too much in ghostly visitations of the type we’ve seen before but then they are more preoccupied with human relationships than ghostly effects. Waiting For Them follows two friends on and a ghost through a series of misunderstandings and mishaps while Nodding Scoop, in the most self referential look at the ghost story, follows a filmmaker whose chronicling of a ghost seer gives him an unwelcome look into his own future.

As with most Facets releases the English subs are optional. Other special features include a Making Of, interviews with cast and filmmakers and an original trailer.