With the underground popularity of films such as Ringu, Ju-On, and Audition, Japanese horror seems to be dominating the international market for imported terror. While these films are all fine ones, the unfortunate side effect is that they are obscuring the really terrific horror films coming out of other Asian countries. One film that may fall through the cracks is A Tale of Two Sisters. The titular sisters face a home life that is definitively challenging: they have just returned from psychiatric care to a household where the father is distant and the stepmother is openly cruel. Even the house itself seems to harbor something distinctly malignant within its walls. Unlike the previously mentioned films, A Tale of Two Sisters does not really thrive on peddling shocks. The pace is languid and the supernatural elements of the story are mostly presented in an understated and entirely effective way. Again, unlike the above mentioned Japanese films, A Tale of Two Sisters is perhaps more akin to a psychological thriller than it is to a traditional horror movie. This film should be captivating even for those who aren’t interested in the usual frights; if nothing else, the combination of the beautiful cinematography, the haunting score, and the unusually strong performances are enough to please an ardent critic of the genre.

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