SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
Some creepy elements right up until the end. I found some of the actions of the characters to be somewhat far fetched but a decent tale as horror goes.
It seems that anxieties about graveyards are universal: this unique offering from Japan is something like the Japanese version of "Poltergeist." A young couple with a five-year-old daughter, looking for an affordable place to live, purchase a priced-to-sell apartment, with one drawback: it's located next to a cemetery and crematorium, which hardly makes for the best ambiance. Undeterred, the couple take up residence, and immediately start to encounter some strange happenings, starting first in the basement, which, for some reason, has no egress except for a temperamental elevator. As the residents start to flee, one by one, because of the strange happenings, the family decide to join suit... until the building shows that it has other ideas...
This is a translation of the original Japanese version, which is sometimes problematic, but it's very readable. Rich in detail, it's an engaging and unsettling read. It's a bit slow in places, but the strange occurrences which happen with disturbing regularity, keep things interesting. The last thirty pages or so are overtly terrifying. If you're looking for a thriller, this is a creative and capable novel.
This is a translation of the original Japanese version, which is sometimes problematic, but it's very readable. Rich in detail, it's an engaging and unsettling read. It's a bit slow in places, but the strange occurrences which happen with disturbing regularity, keep things interesting. The last thirty pages or so are overtly terrifying. If you're looking for a thriller, this is a creative and capable novel.
Ooh, this is my sort of story; a gripping, supernatural creep fest about the lovely Kano family, the newest residents of a too-good-to-be-true, top-level condo. I was hooked from beginning to its unpredictable ending. Even days afterward, I'm still thinking about it. Their experience is a fine example of steadily building terror in the very place that should be a safe haven. If you ever consider moving into a multi-resident building, review the elevator, stairwell, and storage layouts carefully. Great read! 4.5 stars.
