PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Because of my love of horror, I’m constantly being asked if I believe in ghosts. I tend to mostly say no, because I have yet to encounter one. I think. And, I’m in no way saying that I want to encounter one. I’ve been told there are spirits living in and around my house. In this case, I’d rather just go with the whole ‘ignorance is bliss’ mentality, and still be able to sleep at night. So when I decided to watch Shane Ryan’s ghost story, Oni-Gokko, I wondered if the ghosts in my house would think they found a kindred spirit (no pun intended).
Shane Ryan’s (Guerilla, American Virus) Oni-Gokko AKA Tag, is a ghost story about a game of tag between two sisters, Aki (Mariko Wordell) and Miki (Eri Akita), that went terribly wrong. Set against an eerie score, the film, running barely nine minutes, tugs at the heart strings a little, especially the washing scene, but also reminds you of the dangers of such a game. It is revealed how the girls’ last game of tag ended, and how the living sister can prove her remorse. This game of tag is not your ordinary sport, and if you’re not careful, you might just find yourself in the presence of a ghost.
“Tag! It’s your turn. Now you’re it.”
The more works I watch of Ryan’s, the more I’m convinced he can do almost anything. While watching Oni-Gokko, which is in Japanese with English subtitles, I actually thought to myself, “This dude actually made a goddamn Japanese language film!” Written, directed and edited by Ryan, this dark, haunting film makes you think about those lost loved ones, and if they ever really do leave this world. Perhaps they stick around just tease you, or to help you in your time of need. In this case, I’m okay with that, as long as they leave the razor blades behind.
