If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

THE TATTOOIST has the potential to be a great, off-beat horror production, a one-of-the-kind effort from New Zealand that celebrates the virtually unknown to the West Samoan culture by combining it with a traditional horror movie. Unfortunately, in reality it turns out to be a film that rips off the whole J-horror genre, in which a cursed tattooist finds himself menaced by a cheesy CGI spirit.THE TATTOOIST has some potential, and indeed the storyline isn't quite so bad. I like how the whole tattoo sub-culture is developed and explored here, and in addition there are plenty of gruesome scenes to keep horror fans satisfied; if anything's going to put you off wanting to get a tattoo done, then this is the film. Sadly, though, in the end this is a film that doesn't really go anywhere, and in the end becomes a series of bloody deaths rather than anything insightful. Some insipid acting - particularly from the lead - drags the enjoyment factor down still further.

Make no mistake: This film has low ratings because its script, acting and direction is flawed to the point of ridiculousness. It has very few redeeming factors...if any. It promotes itself as cultural and diverse when all it really does is attempt to get on the non-Hollywood horror bandwagon after a slew of foreign 'subtle' horrors that both precede and exceed it! I am a fan of 'subtle' horrors...foreign or no. I do not believe you need extreme bloodshed and shock to make a good movie...although I do not deny the pull of such tactics. I like shock horrors AND creepy horrors. This film, however, tries much too hard to slot itself into a pigeon-hole that it does not belong in...and to be honest...does not deserve the right to try. Many 'subtle' horrors before this terrible crime on entertainment have left the likes of "The Tattooist" in the back seat, and many since...and for good reason. "The Tattooist" is boring, pointless and quite frankly; crap! It's good for background noise during a film night where the film doesn't matter since all you want to do is talk about your week. But if you're looking for a movie that will both keep you entertained AND take you out of the room? You can do better than this; believe me. Now go get yourself a real movie...not this weak sauce!

After inadvertently stealing a tool and applying a native tattoo that holds special significance in their culture, a careless tattoo artist finds those he's marked under attack by a vengeful spirit and must find a way of stopping it's deadly rampage.This was an overall mildly-troubling but still enjoyable effort that really makes a lot of it's strides with the uniqueness of it's traditions and cultures that are exploited. The Polynesian culture is displayed here as being quite exotic and inviting, which is by itself hardly ever explored to begin with, and the foundations laid within make for a hearty and potentially-chilling ghost story that gets showcased here. As well, the fact that it's not a traditional ghost as far as what's commonly been utilized in such films is quite original, and it's scenes of revenge and torment on the characters in the second half gets the best scenes as the bleeding ink, opening wounds and more are quite bloody and really exciting. That said, there's still some problems here and it's mostly the slow beginning which doesn't really let on it's a horror film at all what with it being about tattoos and the such, so those who aren't into that lifestyle might find this one lacking. Also, the fact that the ghost/spirit is a CGI utilized joke takes a lot of the sting out of it's scenes when it looks so putrid and non-threatening, but overall it's still a good bit of fun.Rated R: Graphic Violence, Language, Nudity, a sex scene and drug use.

Professional tattooist Jake Sawyer (Jason Behr) travels all over the world and performs tattoos on people, believing it has healing powers. In Singapore he takes an ancient Samoan tattooing device and falls for Sina (Mia Blake). After he takes the ink and the tool, bad things begin to happen, and he's being haunted by an evil presence that kills people he tattoos with the ink. Can he figure out how to stop it before his new love dies? Sure, it's not a typical blood-and-guts horror film, but it wasn't that bad. They took the time to give a real character with real emotions and feelings, and overall it wasn't that bad of a film. I would recommend a viewing.