An often-revered classic coin-op game from the 80's, R-Type broke all boundaries in its depiction of ruthless space villains, a side scrolling space ship and dangerously evil alien life forms. A simple concept really, the idea of taking a spacecraft and implanting it into a side scrolling space 'action' coin-op game. A gamble that payed off for the fine folks at IREM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING INC. A gamble that stood to make a lot of 20 something's a whole heap of cash, including many sequels (and just as many imitations). Oh wait...R-Point? I'm s'posed to be writing a review of the new Korean horror film from screenwriter turned director Kong Su-Chang, R-Point? Oops.

A platoon of Korean soldiers is sent into the midst of wartime Vietnam in search of, not the enemy, but instead, some missing fellow soldiers. What they don't know is that the area they are heading to, lovingly referred to as R-Point, has more ghosts inhabiting it than a 22-minute episode of Scooby Doo. Lots of creepy stuff happens, including a scene in which the soldiers manage to fix a once broken radio, and dance around an abandoned abode like a gaggle of Japanese schoolgirls. There are some unexplained occurrences, lots of creepy imagery, and a bleeding radio box (cause as we all know, when something is haunted, it inexplicably bleeds).

Silly Soldier!

You can't use a machete to kill a gh-gh-gh-gh-ghost! (Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Film Society)

R-Point's promo materials boast the fact that it's 'not another Ring-rip off,' truly a supported claim. However, this fact alone doesn't make the film any less of an unoriginal rip-off of other types of horror films. Pulling together a slew of ghost story conventions, R-Point certainly has its heart in the right place, but where it fails to succeed in, is its human element. A sad fact that prevents R-Point from attaining the status of anything more than a popcorn and fluff flick.

R-Point manages to look, sound and act creepy. Elements that are perfect for a late night horror treat. However, what should have been the slow deterioration of the soldier's minds (and possibly a much better film) is literally, left for dead. I'm not going to bore or insult you by naming examples, (::cough:: The Shining) but think of some of the best horror films, featuring great minds, in isolated locations, going absolutely loco as caused by the restless dead. What makes these films so great? Exactly what was (unfortunately) missing from R-Point, but then again, as a fluff piece of fright, R-Point might just fit the bill. As long as you're not expecting the next classic, it's worth digging into...at least once.

It's worth mentioning the fact that one of the promo stills here (the hanging soldiers up above) is not a scene in the final film. It was also brought to my attention by a MAP reader attending the Fest, that R-Point's official site features a trailer with even more scenes NOT in the version of the film playing the Fest. Work of the ghosts? You be the judge.

Thumbs Sideways aka 'The Worst Graphic on the Site' It may not be a classic, but there's definitely the potential for some late night horror enjoyment here.