What was the 'scam artist' saying to Ben? - Shutter (2008) Discussion

[–] fangirl100 15 years ago

I'm not exactly fluent in Japanese, but I know a little. When his back was turned and he started talking, he was using feminine wording like he became that woman. Then he said something about saving the woman or something like that. But I know for sure it's not what Ben said he said. Of course, I'm watching the movie right now as I write so I haven't seen it all yet.

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[–] happy_bunny00 15 years ago

Im watching the movie right now . I was wondering about that too .

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[–] climber-11 15 years ago

for one i would not call him a scam artist. but anyway, this is not literal since i have not viewed the movie for some time but it in eigo(English) goes something like this. i have never seen such an act. what you have done is (he used a word that cannot be translated but basically means)unconscionable, horrid, evil, unforgivable,absurd, ect. you will (or cannot)"get out of this". what you have done has doomed you. what you have done is terrible . (and then he says something to the effect of) i am on her side . thats about how i remember it . if i see it again i will update this, but any way it goes it is obvious why he did not translate and also wy there where no subtitles. i guess i had an inside seat i basically knew what was going on well before they let on to it. cool isnt it.

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[–] Shattered_Wake 15 years ago

Clearly there was a reason not to have subtitles as that would have given the whole story away. I'm just curious though. . . was a similar scene in the original? Because, if it was, it would clearly ruin it.

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[–] myochan 15 years ago

Not sure what exactly he said, but he started with Watashi, which is a feminine way of referring to oneself. Then when he gets worked up, I make out tasukete, which means help. I bet he was saying something like, "Why didn't you help me?" But that's just a guess...

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[–] thenicotinefairy 15 years ago

Nope, they never went to a psychic or anything like that in the original. The couple didn't really need to be convinced that there was a ghost in the original. They thought they were haunted pretty much right away.

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[–] andrewsk8s 15 years ago

I don't remember the exact wording, but the "psychic" Murase was saying something like, Why didn't you help me? You could have rescued me? Why did you let something so abominable happen to me? (and yes, he was speaking in the more typical feminine form).

It was Ben who said he was a "scam artist" when he realized that this psychic dude was for real and was channeling the dead woman's voice. He immediately stopped translating and quickly exited the apartment.

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[–] penguinstar26 15 years ago

As a side note, yes 'watashi' is technically the feminine way to say "I", but it's pretty much used in Japan by everyone. "Boku" (the masculine version) is pretty much only used in textbook Japanese or by students.

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[–] urbancowgirl7-1 15 years ago

I always thought at the end when they do the montage of flashbacks showing the audience what they weren't meant to see until the end, they should have added that little clip with a translation. I saw it in theaters and it bugs me every time I re-watch it. I always think, "WHAT IS HE SAYING?!" It was a small over site by the makers, but still on EXCELLENT movie. I love it.

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[–] mikerowerush 15 years ago

i think he was a real psychic and he "felt" what ben and his friends did to the call............thats why he lost his temper.

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[–] psdhart 14 years ago

I agree he was likely a genuine psychic and Ben knew that he knew the truth

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[–] andromache3 10 years ago

He was definitely genuine and Ben didn't want to hear what he had to say, once he realised he was channelling Megumi. It was easy for him to tell Jane he was a scam artist; Jane couldn't speak Japanese like Ben, so it was obviously very easy for him to manipulate her.

I thought it was clever that we didn't get any subtitles. This movie is Jane's journey so we're seeing everything through her eyes. By not understanding what Murase is saying, we're experiencing Jane's vulnerability, confusion and having to accept everything that Ben has to say.

Don't let anyone ever make you feel like you don't deserve what you want.

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[–] Robotext 9 years ago

In the movie's commentary on the DVD, they said he was saying something akin to "Why did you leave her?" so as in order to not give away the secret to the japanese audience that would understand the language. They were supposed to think he meant "Why did the couple leave the girl after hitting her with their car?" like a hit and run.

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