White Lady (2006)

Waste of time

Best movie of this year hands down!

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

WHITE LADY is a stock Filipino ghost story made on a low budget and with little talent either in front of or behind the camera. The story sees a college girl haunted by a female spirit and uncovering some dark events of the past that have led to the current situation. It's very much a variant of the whole 'high school ghost story' genre that was once popular in Japan and South Korea, with WHISPERING CORRIDORS being a primary inspiration. Sadly, there's virtually no supernatural content here, just attempts at atmosphere building that don't pay off and stilted acting.

If you are going to watch this movie, be prepared. Of late, many of the Pinoy movies have been trying to be more Americanized. This equals lots of fake scares and clichéd characters. That being said, White Lady is still a good film. If you get past the clichés, there is a high degree of subtle cleverness to it.Each protagonist loses the thing most precious to them. An artist loses her arm, a singer loses his voice, etc. But it is the way that they lose these things that is superb, by the things they fear the most. The repetition of the Filipino folk song in verse and instrumentally helps to include the audience in the tension shared by all.The ending is a bit too tidy, and again falls back on US clichés. Overall a good movie to see, and worth repeat viewings, but sadly missing the high mark. It could have been a 10 with tighter direction and more traditional Asian horror plotting. It's a pity that the cleverness in this movie was overshadowed by a director trying to be like a US director, not considering that US movies have been sub-standard remakes for decades.

during my trip in malaysia. i saw so many posters for the white lady movie. everywhere i go, main streets, malls, all the cinemas.. so as an Asian horror movies fan, i decided to enter this movie(if i can call it so).. from the first 5 minutes..i knew i was betrayed!! the camera work and the acting is very very poor, i mean poor to a degree less than what an amateur college movie is.. camera moving and shaking,cant get a clear interesting view of any object. actors(when all actors revealed later on the movie) act worse than porno people in a porno story movie.. even the sound effects ( if there is any) are so so annoying, music is not more than the same lullaby that they sing every 5 minutes!!! i wasted my 10$ on this movie, wasted my time, and the worst, i lost my faith in malaysian cinemas for showing this crap!!!

...but it tries too hard to join the rest of the viruses that caused the Asian horror fever. I liked this movie as a mystery movie, riddled with the culture of the Philippines. Sadly, it has also been affected by the usual under-budgeting and much unoriginality. First of all, the "White Lady" (it means lady ghost clad in white in Filipino lore) look like Sadako, or the Grudge. The main difference is her dress is clean.The really good thing about this are the unexpected twists. It may not be jumpy or anything, but White Lady is surely a great mystery movie.The special effects were exceptional (Despite the fact that they were rushed)! Nothing I've ever seen from a Filipino horror movie. Now that's further proof that the Philippines is also turning into an Animation and IT powerhouse.Young artists! I traditionally hate young artists, but the casting was great. They put new faces alongside grown-up child actors.Finally, there is also a hinted social commentary incorporated. There isn't much development to this aspect, but it's obvious.