If the idea of ​​pairing the horror and tattoo could portend worse, it turns out that The Tattooist is much more mature and sensible than one might think.
Jake Sawyer is a young American tattoo artist travels the world in search of new designs and new techniques. At an exhibition of tattoos in Singapore, he is initiated into the sacred rites of tattoos of Samoa. After being cut with Samoa tattoo tool, Jake sees his clients die one after the other, as if they were injected ink that was poisoned. Helped by a friend he has tattooed, Jake will immerse himself in the culture of Samoa to understand what evil force haunts.
It would be easy to believe that The Tattooist is an easy work which exploits a vein in fashion. However, this film distributed by New Zealand's Ghost House (the production company of Sam Raimi) does not take the easy road, approaching the subject with a refreshing seriousness. Although the narrative of the film is agreeably good (you are entitled to a ghost story in which the hero must find what the spectrum wants), the scenario of Matthew Grainger and Jonathan King (Black Sheep) is original and even exciting. The Tattooist wants an introduction to cog tattoo, not only as art, but as a spiritual ritual, medicine and body identification. Tattoo lovers will be delighted to discover the rudimentary tools and techniques used by Samoa.
To this end, The Tattooist pleasantly reminds of The Serpent The Rainbow of Wes Craven. Both films plunge the American protagonist deep in a foreign culture while lumping all with a touch of fantasy. The idea of ​​an evil specter that spreads even tattoo ink is to my knowledge true and brings frankly creepy scene. Before dying, the victims suffer martyrdom as their tattoo ink spreads even their bodies until it has invaded the whole.
What is missing in The Tattooist to raise a notch is a bit more visceral horror. This is the mystery that drives the story and this is its strength, but the best moments of the film occur when victims are dying. One of them literally dries on the operating table after spilled gallons of blood and black ink. The scenario could slightly increase the number of victim and enhance the impact of acts of tattoo.
Jake Sawyer is a young American tattoo artist travels the world in search of new designs and new techniques. At an exhibition of tattoos in Singapore, he is initiated into the sacred rites of tattoos of Samoa. After being cut with Samoa tattoo tool, Jake sees his clients die one after the other, as if they were injected ink that was poisoned. Helped by a friend he has tattooed, Jake will immerse himself in the culture of Samoa to understand what evil force haunts.
It would be easy to believe that The Tattooist is an easy work which exploits a vein in fashion. However, this film distributed by New Zealand's Ghost House (the production company of Sam Raimi) does not take the easy road, approaching the subject with a refreshing seriousness. Although the narrative of the film is agreeably good (you are entitled to a ghost story in which the hero must find what the spectrum wants), the scenario of Matthew Grainger and Jonathan King (Black Sheep) is original and even exciting. The Tattooist wants an introduction to cog tattoo, not only as art, but as a spiritual ritual, medicine and body identification. Tattoo lovers will be delighted to discover the rudimentary tools and techniques used by Samoa.
To this end, The Tattooist pleasantly reminds of The Serpent The Rainbow of Wes Craven. Both films plunge the American protagonist deep in a foreign culture while lumping all with a touch of fantasy. The idea of ​​an evil specter that spreads even tattoo ink is to my knowledge true and brings frankly creepy scene. Before dying, the victims suffer martyrdom as their tattoo ink spreads even their bodies until it has invaded the whole.
What is missing in The Tattooist to raise a notch is a bit more visceral horror. This is the mystery that drives the story and this is its strength, but the best moments of the film occur when victims are dying. One of them literally dries on the operating table after spilled gallons of blood and black ink. The scenario could slightly increase the number of victim and enhance the impact of acts of tattoo.