Masters Of Horror: Dream Cruise (Anchor Bay)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C     Episode: C

 

 

The simple twist of Norio Tsuruta’s entry into the usually lame Masters Of Horror TV anthology series is a simple switch.  Dream Cruise offers yet another tired story of a ghost popping out (usually dirty, with long hair, long white t-shirt and decaying flesh.  This time, it is an American visiting Japan, so maybe we could call this one “An American Zombie Ghost Magnet In Japan” or something equally silly.

 

And it is silly, though the reactions of the visitor (played by Daniel Gillies) adds some amusement to things, as he is almost in another, better film where the protagonists (up to the 1980s) were not as easily scared.  In this cycle of tired Ring-like stories, people seem to overact the scared routine.  Ryo Ishibashi (of the original Grudge, also from the cycle) also turns up.  The series has made much worse, but this is for diehard fans only.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is softer than the better presentations we have seen and not all of that is form being stylized.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix has the usual over-reliance on loud noises and if it were any worse, I would lower the rating.  Still be careful of your volume switch being too high when you first spin this one.  Extras include a making of featurette, stills, DVD-ROM printable screenplay and audio commentary by producer Garris and Gillies.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo