They Wait Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
They wait... to ensure the past is not forgotten.
A couple (King and Chen) returns to North America for a family funeral, having lived in Shanghai, China for the previous six years. Soon after they arrive, their son Jamie (Oey) begins to see ghosts and suffer possession by one of the living dead, and it all ties in with the Chinese festival of Ghost Month, when the doors of hell supposedly open and angry spirits are given the chance to terrorize the living.
| Jaime King | Sarah |
| Terry Chen | Jason |
| Pei-pei Cheng | Aunt Mei |
| Henry O | Pharmacist |
| Regan Oey | Sam |
| Colin Foo | Raymond |
| Chang Tseng | Xiang |
| Michael Biehn | Blake |
| Vicky Huang | Shen |
| Stephen Chang | Funeral Director |
| Vincent Tong | Young Xiang |
| Nelson Wong | Young Ben |
| Paul Wu | Young Raymond |
| Suzanne Bastien | Head Nurse |
| Erika Conway | Nurse #2 |
| Ernie Barbarash |
4.80 out of 10 (1147 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Crept out to the very core
posted on 02 Jul 2009I've watched many Asian horror movies so I can easily predict where ghosts would appear. I can't say the same for the film. Unless you've watched the trailer. So if you really want to be shocked by suspenseful ghost's appearance, DON'T WATCH THE TRAILER. The plot of the story is pretty much given away by the trailer as well. Although, throughout the movie, you'll be given some clues and you'll be able to figure out what's the cause nearing the end. The music plays well the intense moments giving good build-up to anticipation. The mother and son's actings are great but not the father's but he doesn't play a big role so it doesn't affect the movie. The rest of the casting is great. A definitely good scream movie to watch at the cinema with friends!
Ghost story
posted on 01 Apr 2009I found this film to be a delight to watch. I like my horror films but so many these days fail to give me a scare, However this one gave me quite a few jumps. The storyline was excellent and the film flowed nicely and was the perfect length approx 90 minutes. I also found the acting to be of a very high standard in this film, although I knew none of the actors in it. If you are going to watch this film then may i recommend it to be watched at a very late time. Get the popcorn out and the hoover because you are gonna be jumpy. I cannot understand why this film has an average of 4.4 (It seems some people are just far too critical) I am giving this a 10/10 so go watch it now you will not be disappointed
goof and personal opinion
posted on 26 Mar 2009in the scene in the shower, when Jaime King is putting the coat on, u can clearly see shes wearing something to not be naked on the set, they should hide that.... anyway this movie was excellent! and i cant wait some friends to watch it too and jump out of their seats...i think this flick doesn't have enough publicity as it deserves, Jaime King made a great performance! i think, better than she did on "The Tripper" i can say "more conventional"...this movie have an original plot, an amazing thrill and keep you waiting for more, maybe is not the film of the year of course but i guarantee that you won't be bored watching it, i'm very satisfied, i'm a fan of Horror Movies and i give a 10 out of 10!
Perfect For Late Night Television
posted on 12 Feb 2009After the release of Japan's "Ringu", Eastern horror became extremely popular in the west and lead to a series of remakes including "The Grudge" and "The Ring". "They Wait" isn't a remake of an existing Eastern horror but an original production in which an American mother (played by Jaime King) and her six year old son find themselves facing the ghosts of the Chinese community into which they have arrived from Shanghai. Although it may not be based on a Japanese or Chinese horror movie, "They Wait" unfortunately comes across like a compilation of greatest hits from such productions.There's one very good scare quite early in the movie but, once this is over, everything else comes across as quite tame. "They Wait" also unfortunately employs some terrible CGI effects in places. Some of the ghosts (especially those seen before the titles roll) look like something from a Playstation game! This is quite surprising as the rest of the movie looks to have had quite a bit of money thrown at it and director Ernie Barbarash (who also directed "Cube: Zero") knows how to make his movie look extremely polished.The lead performances are all very good (Ms King, in particular, proves to be a strong center for the story) but the plot is quite uninspired. You'll quickly guess what's going on and who is responsible, and the way in which things are resolved also leaves a lot to be desired. But is it a bad movie? No, not at all. If you catch it on television late at night, you'll probably be perfectly entertained throughout its running time and enjoy something that has many charms amongst its faults. If you pay money to rent it out, however, you might feel you've wasted money on something that seems incredibly similar to so many other movies.At the time of writing, this movie has a 3.8 score on IMDb which is, in my opinion, completely unjustified. I've seen a few movies deserving of a score like that and this movie certainly isn't one of them! I can guess at the reason for this, and that reason would be the presence of a certain Uwe Boll who most movie fans will know as the director of a growing library of terrible movies (Alone In The Dark, In The Name Of The King, Bloodrayne etc). However, it's worth pointing out that Uwe Boll was simply the producer here. He didn't write this movie and he certainly didn't direct it! In summary then, "They Wait" is an inoffensive horror movie which works nicely as a late night time-waster but not much more.
Hooray for Hungry Ghost Month!
posted on 14 Dec 2008"They Wait" is a pretty decent little ghost story that has some good moments and a good story that manages to avoid a lot of the usual clichés so prominent these days.Our story begins with some elderly Chinese men hunting in the Great Northwest, and one gets snagged in a bear trap & is visited by something that he would rather not be, after which he apparently dies of fright.In Shanghai, China, a call comes in to a man who is there on business with his wife & young son, that his uncle has died, and to come back for the funeral. So they all pack up and fly back to Washington. They stay with Jason's Aunt Mei, who doesn't care much for Sarah, as she isn't Chinese, I guess. Aunt Mei & Uncle Raymond still live in the old factory where they had a business many years ago. They were both well respected in the community because they provided so many people with jobs, and also Uncle Raymond was known as "the Bone Collector", because he would disinter the remains of buried immigrants after 7 years & send their remains back to China. Supposedly.While there, in Chinatown, it's Hungry Ghost Month, and many offerings line the streets. Young Sam is an impressionable kid and has had his head filled with many tales from his classmates in Shanghai, and he begins to see things that no one else can, especially in a pharmacy where they go to find some ibuprofen for mom, who has a headache.As the story goes on Sam has wandered into a part of the factory that was closed up, and has developed a strange marking on his arms, and falls very ill and is hospitalized. Sarah realizes that there are ghosts there in the factory for some reason, and enlists the help of the old pharmacist to find out what's going on.Seems that Uncle Raymond and Aunt Mei were nowhere near as kindly and helpful as they were thought to be, and what they were doing was a front for something much more lucrative. And angry ghosts still haunt their factory.Not a bad little flick, entertaining and with some pretty decent ghostly moments, nothing TOO intense but just about right for a rainy evening. 7 out of 10.
A reasonably good movie ...
posted on 10 Dec 2008I read some mixed reviews before watching it..it takes a bit more to please me as an horror movie buff. I felt the story line was innovative, movie had good number of scares without much of blood around.The main lead was good but probably some nudity would have added more flavour to the movie. Good effort overall. Probably there could have been more gore and blood in the movie to keep all the horror fans happy.It was not as scary as Grudge or Ring but it was still reasonably good absolutely not a time waster. Its definitely worth a watch.I would give it a 6.
A Shockingly Good Ghost Movie
posted on 06 Dec 2008Seeing THEY WAIT at the Vancouver Festival, people were screaming at the scares, and the audience broke out into applause after a tense, white-knuckle 89 minutes. THEY WAIT leaps into action with a highly engaging first half, and then escalates quickly into a harrowing and riveting second part. Surprisingly strong performance from Jaime King and excellent turns by the rest of the cast. THEY WAIT - quite frankly - really does have blockbuster theatrical hit written all over it as another commentator has said, and has remarked the only legitimate print journalist to review it so far; everything, from the visuals to the performances, seems to be operating at a Hollywood movie level, far beyond its budget and seemingly nothing like the usual unpopular and noncommercial Canadian film disasters. Does this film mark the return to the days when Canadian films like SCANNERS or PORKY'S could take the box office crown away from the Hollywood studios? People applauding at the end, swarming around the lobby talking about how good it was -- that tells you everything you need to know about the reception to the film by an audience. With a decent release and a good ad campaign, this will be a hit. Though not perfect -- there is a certain clunkiness to a flashback sequence, for example -- the film is a revelation in doing what it sets out to do. It bangs virtually every mark. Director Ernie Barbarash has grown leaps and bounds from his previous efforts with the mediocre to dull low-rent CUBE ZERO and has hit the Hollywood Standard here. This film shines and looks and sounds terrific.Paul Kael @ rotten tomatoes
This is a Canadian movie about the Hungry Ghosts Month and set in Shanghai (supposedly) so it's unique, if anything.
posted on 30 Nov 2008I love it when East meets West and I find it cooler still when it's a white girl and an Asian guy pairing. This is a Canadian movie about the Hungry Ghosts Month and set in Shanghai (supposedly) so it's unique, if anything.Jaime King is a mom whose son has been taken by a vengeful spirit who seeks justice for what happened to her in some sweat shop owned by King's Chinese in-laws. Hence, she seeks spiritual help to enter the ghost realm to discover the truth and find her son. It's actually a story not unlike what would've come out of Hong Kong during its horror movie heyday, so They Wait has the feeling of being yet another Hollywood remake (but it isn't).The mystery wasn't very deep, but there were a couple of cool scary/creepy scenes, and the actors were good, though I wish Cheng Pei Pei wasn't so understated.
Average horror flick
posted on 07 Oct 2008I like horror, and horror in the true sense of being scared by a movie. This had a few jumps in it, but nothing terrifying.The main problem with it was the story. It was very, very all over the place. You're not sure if it's a monster movie, a ghost story or a horror film. And it keeps you guessing right up till the end...and I'm still not sure.If the story had been written well, the film would have been good. The acting was not bad, nothing outstanding. The direction was again, OK, a few good moments are spoilt by a few bad ones.Watch it late at night, with the lights off, you'll most likely enjoy it. Just try not to follow the plot too closely, coz it's not a very good one.
A boring Chinese Poltergeist story
posted on 31 Jul 2008Oh no, they didn't let them rest. And now they have awakened. Or something of the sort. They used all the clichés of the genre: Chinese obscure habits, disturbed bones, demons that take a child hostage while the mother must perform some sort of task while no one is helping except "the old sage". Also the usual scene that begins in a way and ends in blood or scary deformed faces or other things like that. Don't forget the sudden loud violin sounds and sudden movements.Yes, you have seen it before. And as long as you will watch this kind of recycled junk, you will continue seeing it. My advice is to boycott such farces and make way for real movies.
Meh
posted on 30 May 2008I'm having a hard time actually figuring out why this just wasn't a very good movie, because the component parts were not that bad individually. Acting was OK, but not great. The plot was reasonable although nothing special. The Asian elements to the story were interesting but hardly compelling. Special effects average. Cinematography a bit weak but not horrible.Hmmm. I'm beginning to see a pattern here. Everything is just... average at best. There's no spark, no pizazz, nothing to make you really get scared, excited, thrilled, grab the edge of your seat. It's just -- meh.
An Exceptional Production - Blockbuster Potential!
posted on 08 Apr 2008Caught this movie at the first TIFF screening and I've got to say it was exceptional! Imagine this: A truly original storyline for once with a tie between eastern and western cultures and Chinese mythology and current traditions (i.e. Ghost Month).Excellent cinematography, acting, special effects and a truly scary jump out of your seat thrill ride. It's rare when a movie gets to me now days like this one but it's incredibly eerie and dark. Lot's a screaming and spilled popcorn guaranteed!!! My wife has had nightmares for the last week. So yeah, I give it a full 10/10!! This will be Big, easily as big as White Noise maybe even close to The Ring. This puts Canada on the Map for Horror movies for sure. The best movie of this type I've seen for years. Be sure to check it out.
Vancouver ghost story is a real gem!
posted on 16 Nov 2007A young Canadian, mixed-race family (he's Asian, she's Euro, and they have a westernized 11-year-old) have their prosperous life in go-go modernday Shanghai interrupted by a mysterious family death back home. This takes them back to Vancouver's Chinatown, where they experience culture shock in reverse. The couple find themselves at odds over the very cultural pressures they once fled, while their little boy, a born psychic like his denying mother, finds himself the innocent target of malevolent spirits. From there the terror mounts.An extremely well mounted and well written supernatural thriller, both quietly eerie and scream-inducing horrific. Believable characters (nothing "Cleavers" about this troubled but loving couple) and no cheap thrills -- any horror moments are clearly explained in this one, as part of its intricate plot. Sometimes to a fault -- the odd snatch of dialogue is a bit too explanatory -- but it feels like a great horror director hit-and-missing at a great skill, in his movies to come.Another great treat of this film is spotting those wonderful older Chinese character actors, whom I've seen around for years, doing their "Rosemary's Baby" turn as fabulously diabolical oldtimers.
Sleeper Hit of Toronto Festival
posted on 04 Nov 2007I caught this at the Toronto Festival like the other reviewer and was very surprised by how entertaining it was. A terrific ghost story. Jaime King puts in a very strong performance and the whole cast is solid. It's been a while since I've witnessed entire audiences jumping in fright and screaming. There is incredible atmosphere in the film and the underlying story is actually quite brilliant in the way it combines multiple cultures, the immigrant experience, Chinese folklore and actual history and fuses it into a genuine crowd-pleasing genre film. Highly original on that front. I'm a pretty well-rounded J-horror freak-boy and I couldn't see any clichés here which was amazing. Great work from director Barbarash as well.I'm giving it an 8 as it was certainly the cream of the Canadian film crop at the festival (not withstanding Eastern Promises, which is not a Canadian story with Canadian actors). There is an obvious very large audience for it and it's well made. Looking at the IMDb scores, while I write this, there's a couple dozen 1's dragging the score down. How could that be? This is a pretty good film! Is this because Uwe Boll has his name attached as an executive producer? People are rating it with 1's and trashing it on their blogs without even seeing it. Sad. What a shame for the sincere filmmakers behind this quality movie.
An Asian style ghost story without all the clichés
posted on 27 Sep 2007Don't get me wrong, I love The Ring, The Grudge, and most J-Horror movies with the jerky movement ghosts and tales of revenge.However this movie seemed to be able to communicate the same concepts that make the Asian ghost stories so intriguing without resorting to all the same clichés. And when they do decide to throw in a jump scene, it is usually not where you expect it or completely out of nowhere.It is a simple story that has been told over and over, but this adds and Asian twist with concepts such as Hungry Ghost Month and Spirit Money without alienating a western audience.Overall the story is pretty predictable and that is the only downside to this movie. Once you figure out what is going on, it's pretty much a "which road will they take to the end" as opposed to a surprise around each corner. The acting is pretty decent for this type of flick. The kid actually does a good job - never know how they will do in these.I would recommend this if you want to introduce some of the elements of a good Asian horror story without all the oddness that is directly copied in some of the other remakes. Many of the concepts of the genre are there without the kabuki inspired movements.
One of the best in the genre
posted on 09 Sep 2007"They Wait" is a nearly-flawless ghost story that has no real flaws to it.**SPOILERS**Following his uncle's death, Jason Tsai, (Terry Chen) and his family, wife Sarah, (Jaime King) and son Sammy, (Regan Oey) return home to China for the funeral, eventually staying with Aunt Mei, (Pei-pei Cheng) at her house. Discovering during that time that they have arrived during the time of the year known as Hungry Ghost Month, he keeps having strange visions of a young girl following him around, which soon triggers a wave of hauntings between the two of them that eventually put him into a coma. Desperate for answers, she turns to Xiang Wu, (Chang Tseng) an old associate for help, but soon determines that the events are caused by an act performed years ago that has left an angry ghost after the family and she tries to right the wrongs of the past to save her family.The Good News: This was an awesome and enjoyable ghost film. One of the better aspect to the film is the incredible story. This is a great one, simply perfect for hanging a creepy and suspenseful ghost story around. The way it manages to make the situation with the ghosts' return for vengeance, which is creepy enough with the explanation given regarding the decorations and the interactions behind them, into a wonderfully atmospheric film in the first half is really great and makes for a great story. These early scenes, from him wandering into the basement based on noises at the beginning or them walking across the streets with the store-fronts decorated and set-up, allows for some good moments and is part of what's so entertaining about these moments. That there's some really good scares here are just all the better, with a couple of fantastic ones centered around the drug-store scene. It's so sudden, so unexpected and come sat the perfect beat with the perfect set-up is just classic, and the scene works gloriously. The rising bear at the fireplace is also classic, and since it leads into the spectacular scene in the factory that has to be seen to fully appreciate how great it is. Even the opening attack is great, with the woodland setting being used to absolutely perfect account here, as the fog-covered wooded area looks absolutely desolate, creepy and foreboding. The gag with the trees is absolutely perfect, the growling and jarring camera-work all signify an attack that is wisely not seen, and there's the bloody pay-off before the off-screen kill to make it all the better and open on a high-note. Once it goes into the possession angle, because it deals with the physical acts that demonstrate what's happening to him, there's some really great moments to come from this. The Mandarin encounter works from previous dialog, the dyed arms works on pure shock value, and all-in-all, these are really great moments that are just as good as what came before. It's also nice that since it's actually focused on a child being in danger which is so rare in itself, the fact that this one actually does do it makes it all the more chilling. The main reason why all this works well is the fact that we get the back-story for everything, which sets up revelations later on that really work and manage to make the earlier stuff all the better. It's a really marvelous twist, appearing as natural as to what happened at the time-period, is appropriate and fitting for a ghost's revenge and makes the events all the creepier. Then, as if talking about it isn't enough, we get to watch it play out in a fantastic flashback that has absolutely everything and doesn't even come with a flaw. The ghost's revenge here is also perfect, as there's an erupting flow of bones from the room that seems positively endless, the arms shooting out from the pile to drag the two away in a great scene, or the later sequence with the one victim vomiting up skeleton bones in an extended, graphic and brutal set-piece that really works. The last plus here is the gore, which isn't bad and kept to a minimum but makes it work when it counts. There's a meat cleaver to the top of the head that slices the eye open, a complete stripping of flesh leaving the bloody bones behind, a stabbing and some messy wounds and bruises, as well as a foot stuck in a bear-trap. These here are the film's best qualities.The Bad News: There was really only one thing wrong with this one. By doing the possession so late in the film, it makes the ghost look a little weak since they had plenty of contact before, with plenty of opportunities to do so before then, and to then do so at the end is a little suspicious. Also, the manner of possession, by saying it's been done but not explaining how or why, takes a little of the sting out of it. It could've been written in another way, as they don't really play it up later as one, making the proclamation even more strange. Either way, it's the only thing really wrong with the film.The Final Verdict: An absolutely fantastic entry that has almost no flaws at all, coming out as the best Asian ghost film not done in Asia. Unequivocally recommended to fans of Asian Ghost films, fan of the creative cast or those who find this one interesting, while there isn't many out there who won't like this one.Rated R: Violence, some Language and children in danger
Atmospheric thriller
posted on 24 Jul 2009Jaime Kinmg stars as a young mom in THEY WAIT, a murder mystery and ghost story rolled into one. She travels to the state from her home in Shaghai to attend a funeral. Weird things begin to happen almost immediately, including the son sliding into a trance-lie state and a mute young Chinese woman popping up and then disappearing again. Lovers of ghost movies, especially ones with a revenge plot, will figure out the plot early on, but they are likely to be surprised by the ultimate solution. We get a little Chinese folklore mixed in to spice things up. King is the only recognizable name in the cast, and appears in virtually every scene. She does a fine job as a harried mother trying to make sense of the many odd things that happen to her. The movie is atmospheric and occasionally scary. It is in the vein of THE OTHERS and SIXTH SENSE.