“Haunted Changi” (2010) – Singapore Ghost/ Horror

It’s finally December… and even though I’ve been a wee bit scarce around the ol’ Litterbox lately, I am still alive and kicking… just busy, busy, busy with the Thanksgiving holiday and, as always, work. But… I have also managed a film or two in my busy schedule, so it’s time for another quick review. (Before somebody discovers I’ve actually got some unaccounted for “free time”…. Hehehehe!!) This time out…. Singapore’s recent addition to the virtual deluge of “shaky cam” horror “fake-cumentaries”, “Haunted Changi” recently released here in the US on Region 1 DVD.

Our synopsis goes along these lines: “In January of 2010, a group of local filmmakers began exploring the famously haunted Old Changi Hospital in Singapore with terrifying and tragic results. This movie pieces together the original Haunted Changi film crew’s footage in an attempt to tell the full story of the terrible events they experienced.”

Hmmmm? Yep. Sounds familiar alright…. but hey, who knows? Given the current popular fascination with this particular horror sub-genre throughout the world, it seems your Favorite Catgirl is going to be sitting through lots… and lots… and lots of these until the craze finally winds down as they always inevitably do.

Will Singapore have anything new or novel to add? Or will we get a simple rehash of old ideas yet again? Guess I’ll find out… and so can you, Gentle Visitor, if you just tag along with lil’ ol’ me and “Read On”….

“Where Got Ghost?” (2009) – Singapore Ghost/ Comedy

Here’s a rarity in my part of the world… an honest to goodness Singaporean movie. I order lots and lots of Thai films out of Singapore (Yes.. yes… that pesky subtitle thingee… don’t let me get started on THAT rant again… Hehehehe!!) but I can honestly say I’ve only ever snagged a couple of their local efforts over the years. Since you all know I’m just goofy for ghost stories, how could I not take a chance on something titled “Where Got Ghost?”….

It’s a horror anthology by local Singaporean writer/director Jack Neo and our synopsis goes as follows: “Every year on the Lunar 7th month is the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival and Singaporeans with Chinese heritage and background will be celebrating with their beloved family members that have passed away. Most common methods are burning paper money and offering food for their deceased family members. “Where Got Ghost” is a typical Singaporean horror-comedy movie that is divided into three stories, each with some thrills, some chills and quite a few laughs along the way…”

How did it stack up for me as a movie watching experience? Was it as charming as some Chinese ghost comedies? Or did they go with the toilet humor route that most Thai and Indonesian films like to go? (I admit I sorta expected the latter might just be the ticket here….. not that there’s a problem with that, mind you….Hehehehe!)

I guess we’re all about to find out, so you are certainly gonna want to “Read On” and see!