I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Man, this film gave me the chills! Quite a few scenes might not make sense until the ending explains why and how it all fits together. One doesn't really understand the young girl's obsession towards her father at first, but it all makes sense with the big reveal. I did feel some details were mentioned over and over for the sake of the story, and did not make believable everyday conversation. The film also jumps backwards and forward in time and one has to understand this storytelling method to fully understand the story. The twist ending was unexpected and a great turn of events.

All I can say is, pop some popcorn, turn off the lights and turn up the sound. This movie will entertain and creep you out. The actors do a great job, (especially the little girl), without the traditional overacting you find in this genre. This film is stylishly filmed and directed. Though the film covers some universal paranormal themes, it is still perplexing, surprising and very satisfying. The ending is often predictable in these types of movies, however I didn't see this one coming. I would love to see the little girl in other roles. Her acting is Oscar worthy. M. Night and Steven should use this "sweet" little one in one of their movies. You probably think I'm overstating it, but just watch and tell me if she doesn't do her job creeping you out better than you could imagine! Don't miss this one! It's worth your time!

Asian horror cinema became a salvation, a die hard horror fan seeks all day long. Some say movies like Ringu and Ju-On are overrated with the argument that people are ready to like any contemporary horror that hasn't been made by Americans. Asian horror includes a brave approach with dark atmosphere, a package of jump out of the seat moments and a compulsory twist. Pon isn't exactly what I though it would be.A little girl answers a mobile phone and seconds later, she starts screaming like she has seen an evil clown. The main heroine is with the mission of solving the mystery, facing unexpected troubles connected with a terrible event from the past.Pon is the first Asian horror flick that I find very identical to most USA scary movies we watch these days. First of all, there is almost no drama. All attempts of creating a wet characters is completely covered with a scary expression coming out of nowhere. Yes, this is probably typical for that kind of movies, but not in the way, Pon shows it. At some point, those moments become annoying. It's just that they are far too much for a profound storyline such as the one Pon pretends to tell. There are over 5-6 scenes where a calm atmosphere has captured the screen and suddenly, the main character sees what is supposed to be the ghost of a previously killed female. It's scary at first, but the balance is completely destroyed in the later period of the film. It's not something incredibly retarded, but it becomes obvious that the creators is out of ideas since such story could easily be filmed in 40-50 minutes. What I mean by lack of balance: The second act is full of flashbacks, telling the viewer what is going on. And then, the same stuff continues to control the movie's fable. For example, suddenly opened eyes, supported by the sound of a nail, driven in someone's head. Too much of the same erases the well developed story. I begun with the bad points, but with a couple of compromises, we could definitely call Pon a decent film. The storyline is quite original, building another house in the city of horror that exists above the grounds of classics such as The Shining. Yes, nobody expects a masterpiece, but Pon is an inspiring, atmospheric tale. Good acting, good use of effects although their amount is too high for the movie's own good. And most important, the movie reaches a level of mystery, capable of making you a witness. In terms of horror, screams might not win your attention, but you should definitely appreciate the thoughtful plot Overall, an enjoyable horror movie with great potential, lost somewhere in the lack of principles.

Ji-won is a reporter who's has just exposed a child-sex crime ring and from that break through she starts receiving threatening phone calls from a stalker. So, she moves into her sister's vacant house and also switches her mobile number to escape it. But the harassing phone calls still keep on coming and one day her niece Yeong-ju answers it and not too long she starts acting rather unusually. Ji-won continues to receive these eerie phone calls, which she comes to learn that her new number happens to be cursed by the spirit of Jin-hie, a love-struck girl.Asian horror films really love their fashionable technology or either vengeful female ghosts. And this one is no exception to the trend. Now it's the dreaded phone's turn for some paranormal activity in the form of the medium. This is definitely the phone call from hell! You'll be hoping they'd put their mobile on silent with the constant ringing. You can only take so much within a short time. Now you're probably thinking it'll be the been-there-done-that musty modern Asian ghost story and I can't say it isn't at times. Some scenes and ideas absolutely resemble "Ringu", "Ju-on" and "Dark Water". Although saying that, the Korean entry "Phone" does provide an effectively, glum mystery-thriller, where the supernatural tone is more a smokescreen to the bigger picture. The twists are not so predictable and I found it to offer many surprising revelations… mainly the climax. Inconsistencies and lack of logic makes its way into the knotty story, but at least it wasn't terribly convoluted like most of the same field. It was definitely a compelling slow-burn type of story that slows up drastically in the mid-section, but really picks up for the final third. Mixed through the plot are interesting side-stories, the traditional flashbacks and the investigation into the curse that all ties in. Sounds derivative, but it's far from uninspired. The strongest aspect of the film has to be that it's a highly polished and slick looking production, which manages to invoke such a menacing claustrophobic feel from its murky backdrop. Director Ahn Byeong-ki does well in streamlining the film with eerie set pieces and visually striking images without so much of telegraphing them. Helping the subdued air of mystery and dread is the elegantly pulsating score and a good mix of bone rattling sounds. Special effects are steadily controlled within the story and they're executed to perfection. The performances were mild by the leads Ji-won Ha and Yu-mi Kim, but with the exception of Seo-woo, who's very good as Yeong-ju, the scary little girl who can't stop pulling ugly faces and hissing.After watching this you'll won't be waiting by the phone for too long. A traditional Asian entry into the contemporary tragic ghost story, which is entertaining and technically well made.