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This review may contain spoilers
Kagubata
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a horror movie that feels like a true horror movie. It strikes a perfect balance between the supernatural and the gory, with a vintage feel, a chilling atmosphere, and effective jumpscares. Unlike many modern films that boast about being "horror that doesn't rely on jumpscares," I actually prefer films like this. For me, the point of watching a horror movie is to feel scared, to be startled, to be on the edge of my seat, never knowing when the "scary things" will pop out. It's a way to challenge myself, which is why I'll always appreciate horror films that can effectively create a sense of fear.
The plot isn't overly cerebral, nor is it insultingly simple or predictable. It's a film that keeps you tense, wondering what will happen next, filled with bizarre actions and sudden developments. Although the core of the story is still a demon, the journey of unveiling the mystery, of searching for a way to exorcise it, only to discover that this demonic force has sunk its roots so deep into the human world that it's beyond saving—that's what needs to be constantly refreshed with new, unique, and diverse elements. And to think this film was made in 2005... it truly surpasses most of the horror I've seen recently.
I'm not a die-hard horror fan; I haven't seen that many, mainly because the pacing of the genre (especially in Western films) often doesn't click with me. The beginning is almost always a slow burn, the color palette is dark from start to finish, a ghost possesses some object, wreaks havoc, and kills people. Then, the main character finds an exorcist, uncovers some secret (usually about a restless spirit with lingering resentment or attachment), and in the end, the blame is pinned on human wrongdoing. This is a common formula in many horror films I've seen from various countries. And honestly, for me, what makes a horror film genuinely terrifying comes from things that have depth and layers—things that are unknown and ambiguous. People fear what they don't understand.
This time, the demon in Noroi is a real demon, an evil from the underworld. Although it was summoned by humans, it doesn't exist merely as a vessel to preach a moral lesson. Evil is just evil; it isn't reduced to the socially-conscious, philosophical mantra that "man is the real monster." This time, the supernatural force that humans have always feared is real: an ancient "demon worm" we know nothing about. We are completely in the dark about its origins, methods, form, and rituals. And above all, this unimaginable entity is presented as "existing" in a very real way through documentary-style footage featuring real people. This is the element that makes Noroi one of the most frightening films I've ever seen.
I've always loved this kind of old-school aesthetic. It feels like in our sleek, modern world, there's no place left for ghosts and demons. In a life that's become so mechanical, pragmatic, and reliant on science and technology, people just don't care about the supernatural anymore. Humans seem to think there's almost nothing left that they don't know or haven't figured out, so the value of a good ghost story has been reduced to a trivial joke. That's why I love the chilling sensation of watching something "outdated" in low-resolution footage that is nonetheless direct, bloody, gruesome, raw, and real. The fragmented editing, rather than making the film feel disjointed, creates the sense that the viewer is the one slowly piecing together the hidden story.
In its role as a horror film, Noroi delivers on all fronts. I believe it truly set a benchmark, a standard, and a foundation for the films that followed (from its premise and scare tactics to its ending and narrative style).
However, I have to admit that the beginning is a bit difficult to get through and it's easy to lose focus, so I can't give the film a perfect score. But if you can push through the initial part and truly immerse yourself in the movie, the ending will not disappoint you.
The plot isn't overly cerebral, nor is it insultingly simple or predictable. It's a film that keeps you tense, wondering what will happen next, filled with bizarre actions and sudden developments. Although the core of the story is still a demon, the journey of unveiling the mystery, of searching for a way to exorcise it, only to discover that this demonic force has sunk its roots so deep into the human world that it's beyond saving—that's what needs to be constantly refreshed with new, unique, and diverse elements. And to think this film was made in 2005... it truly surpasses most of the horror I've seen recently.
I'm not a die-hard horror fan; I haven't seen that many, mainly because the pacing of the genre (especially in Western films) often doesn't click with me. The beginning is almost always a slow burn, the color palette is dark from start to finish, a ghost possesses some object, wreaks havoc, and kills people. Then, the main character finds an exorcist, uncovers some secret (usually about a restless spirit with lingering resentment or attachment), and in the end, the blame is pinned on human wrongdoing. This is a common formula in many horror films I've seen from various countries. And honestly, for me, what makes a horror film genuinely terrifying comes from things that have depth and layers—things that are unknown and ambiguous. People fear what they don't understand.
This time, the demon in Noroi is a real demon, an evil from the underworld. Although it was summoned by humans, it doesn't exist merely as a vessel to preach a moral lesson. Evil is just evil; it isn't reduced to the socially-conscious, philosophical mantra that "man is the real monster." This time, the supernatural force that humans have always feared is real: an ancient "demon worm" we know nothing about. We are completely in the dark about its origins, methods, form, and rituals. And above all, this unimaginable entity is presented as "existing" in a very real way through documentary-style footage featuring real people. This is the element that makes Noroi one of the most frightening films I've ever seen.
I've always loved this kind of old-school aesthetic. It feels like in our sleek, modern world, there's no place left for ghosts and demons. In a life that's become so mechanical, pragmatic, and reliant on science and technology, people just don't care about the supernatural anymore. Humans seem to think there's almost nothing left that they don't know or haven't figured out, so the value of a good ghost story has been reduced to a trivial joke. That's why I love the chilling sensation of watching something "outdated" in low-resolution footage that is nonetheless direct, bloody, gruesome, raw, and real. The fragmented editing, rather than making the film feel disjointed, creates the sense that the viewer is the one slowly piecing together the hidden story.
In its role as a horror film, Noroi delivers on all fronts. I believe it truly set a benchmark, a standard, and a foundation for the films that followed (from its premise and scare tactics to its ending and narrative style).
However, I have to admit that the beginning is a bit difficult to get through and it's easy to lose focus, so I can't give the film a perfect score. But if you can push through the initial part and truly immerse yourself in the movie, the ending will not disappoint you.
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