Is Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi: Summer Special 2011 Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2011)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi: Summer Special 2011 (2011), audiences are invited back into the world of TV Movie, Horror. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "While Suzaki Saika (Ashida Mana) is hospitalised for poor health, her father, Tamotsu (Totsugi Shigeyuki) feels torn that he has to leave here and go on a business trip. A portrait of Saika’s late mother is placed beside her bed. Her mother had died in exchange for bringing her into this world. Tamotsu puts a paper with his mobile phone number written on it inside an amulet and hands it to Saika. He asks the nurse Tokunaga Maki (Minamisawa Nao) to keep an eye on Saika, and leaves for his trip. One night, a young girl calls out to a lonely Saika who cannot get to sleep. A long-haired girl in a wheelchair in the old wing befriends Saika and plays with her everyday. However, by the time Saika realises it, she has awaken from her sleep. Was that a dream? When she talks about the girl in the wheelchair, Maki’s expression freezes. What happened at this hospital?"

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. Mana Ashida attempts to elevate the material, but the direction leaves them with little to work with. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good TV Movie. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi: Summer Special 2011 worth your time? If you appreciate TV Movie, Horror films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi: Summer Special 2011 misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of N/A minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.