Why you can trust 12DOVE
Again riding on Asian horror’s coat tails, the US producers who remade Japanese scare-classic Ringu have joined with debut feature directors Charles and Thomas Guard for a rehash of spooky 2003 Korean fright-flick A Tale of Two Sisters.
After a stint in a mental institution following her invalid mother’s death in a fire, teenager Anna (a bland Emily Browning) returns to live in the family’s sea-side home. She’s happily reunited with her sister (a bolshier Arielle Kebbel), but suffers disturbing visions and the increasing suspicion the tragic event was caused by her father’s new girlfriend Rachel (a flatly soap villainish Elizabeth Banks).
Not nearly as creepy as the stylishly shot original, this version trades eerie atmosphere for clunky physical effects and waters down the house’s claustrophobia with needless subplots about Anna’s beach-party fling and another family murdered years before.
The original’s nifty twist is still there – but this time sorely lacks built-up punch.
Carmen Gray
The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.

Blood of Dawnwalker devs explain how the vampire RPG's "narrative sandbox" builds on what they were "known for crafting" in games like The Witcher 3

Persona and Metaphor: ReFantazio composer's new JRPG gets a Steam Next Fest demo, and it's basically a turn-based Metal Gear Solid

Avowed is nothing like Bethesda's RPGs, but The Elder Scrolls 6 should take inspiration from its combat