One of the better entries in the Tartan “Asia Extreme” series, Japanese director Yoshihiro Nakamura's The Booth is not a typical ghost story but rather an exercise in psychological suspense in which the instrument of retribution is the perpetrator's gnawing sense of guilt instead of a vengeful spirit. Of course, there is a “haunted” setting—a long-unused broadcast booth where a DJ once committed suicide—but the suggestion that the dead man still inhabits the chamber is soon dispensed with, allowing the narrative to concentrate on the young, cocky host of a talk show who becomes increasingly unnerved as technical problems with the old equipment and recurrent recollections of the wrongs he's done (both recently and in the distant past) prey on his mind, leading to self-destructive thoughts. Granted, The Booth does not boast a great deal of logic—it's hard to say how much of what's happening is real or merely hallucination—but the confined locale creates a hothouse atmosphere, and the director and cast skillfully ramp up the tension, making this cinematic short story creepily satisfying, like a good Twilight Zone episode. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a short “making-of” featurette, a Q&A with the director and star at the premiere, and a radio broadcast with the filmmakers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an atmospheric little chiller.] (F. Swietek)
The Booth
Tartan, 74 min., in Japanese w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $24.99 Volume 21, Issue 5
The Booth
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