Marebito Details

Atmospheric Horror

From the director of the Grudge this film successfully marries the atmospheric uncertainties of traditional Japanese horror movies with the mythic narratives of British & European gothic horror.

The moments of gore are disturbing and memorable but the real driving force of this film is the contrast between our protagonit, Masuoka's, fragile grip on reality and the cinema verite film techniques used throughout. We watch 'reality' through the intersession of security video and hand held film camera, spiral towards the nightmares and myths contained within the thoughts of Masuoka, played by the director of Tetsuo Iron Man - Shinya Tsukamoto, as revealed through his voice overs. Masuoka is a filmmaker obsessed with capturing the essence of fear, his journey recalls the classic questions about the nature of reality and redemption found in Plato, Dante, Radcliffe, Le Fanu, Donne etc yet seemlessly intertwined with the mesmeric reflexions on the relationship between media & violence.

A thoutful and intelligent film which asks some very deep questions whilst retaining all the shock, gore and atmosphere required of Japanese horror.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Slow Horror

Takeshi Shmizus's atmospheric horror has some disturbing images and a sense of dread that runs throughout, but the pacing is a little slow. The moments of gore are extremely well done.