Review: Wishing Stairs (2003)

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(also known as Whispering Corridors 3: Wishing Stairs)

Starring: Ji-hyo Song, Han-byeol Park, An Jo, Ji-Yeon Park
Director: Jae-yeon Yun
Writer: Soyoung Lee
Producion Companies: CJ Entertainment, Cine-2000 Film Production
Distributor: Palisades Tartan (2003) (USA) (all media), Tartan Video USA (2005) (USA) (DVD)
Rated R for violent and disturbing images

(info courtesy of imdb)

Standard Disclaimer: If you don’t want to be even a tiny bit spoiled: I saw it, I liked it and you’ll probably like it to. Now stop reading because I may have revealed plot points and spoilers.

Seriously, the review is starting.

Last chance …

(P.S. it’s not the destination, but the journey, Whiner)

I saw this movie on Shudder, a new streaming horror movie service that was offering a 7-Day free trial. While Netflix is wonderful for mainstream and a few straight to video movies, Shudder manages to be the Movie Mania of streaming horror. Sure you have your blockbusters, but there are more gems to be unearthed here.

As things on Shudder are broken out by category, I can get my paranormal fix with relative ease. I went right for the Asian horror, because they do it right.

Wishing stairs, like most of the Whispering Corridors move takes place in an all-girl’s art school – painters, sculptors, dancers. The teachers are strict, the rules are not arbitrary, and if you’re an outsider to be mocked.

Outside of the dormitories, there is a stone staircase, and the legend says that if you climb the steps one by one and wish very hard with all of your soul, one more step will appear at the top, and your wish will be granted.

No good can come from that kind of random masonry.

J and S are very good friends.  One is theory and practice, and the other is natural talent and creative abandon. As with all friendships forged by necessity and loneliness, at the first sign of conflict and competition and in order to gain the upper hand, J climbs the stairs outside of the dorms

1 – Wow Factor – Pleasantly surprised. Some eye rolling moments and a few c’mons
2 – Wander Lust – None; being in a theater kills the ability to wander, but had I been home, I may have gotten up for food.
3 – Rewind – There were no blink and you’ll miss them moments, it was a slow climb to the top before the drop
4 – Recommend – Yes, for a matinee show or after drinks. The less you think about what’s happening, the better
5 – Movie Math – The Money’s Paw  + Black Swan = Wishing Stairs
6 – Personal Movie rating (scale of 1-5 with one being Abysmal and 5 being “Start A religion”) – 3.75

Did you see the Gallows? How does my movie math hold up? Is there a better equation? Tell me in the comments!

Photos courtesy of The Gallows tumblr page and all rights belong to them.