Cure (1997) [Film Review]

Cure; or, The Ultimate Treatment
     Doctor, can I tell you something? All the things that used to be inside me… now they’re all outside. So, I can see all of the things inside of you, Doctor. But the inside of me is empty.
When thinking about the revival of the J-Horror genre, people often mention such movies as Ring (1998), Audition (1999), and Battle Royale (2000) as responsible for reigniting the interest in scary tales made in Japan. However, I believe that Kiyoshi Kurosawa should not be excluded from receiving the credit. Apart from giving us a ghostly Pulse (2001), he also directed a mystery horror called Cure (1997) with Koji Yakusho in the leading role.

Release Info

Directed by: Kiyoshi Kurosawa Starring: Koji Yakusho, Masato Higawara, Anne Nakagawa

Language: Japanese Original Title: キュア Runtime: 111 min

Synopsis
Detective Takabe (Koji Yaskusho) is investigating a series of strange murders. The culprits are caught after the act and they claim not to know what pushed them to kill a person that was close to them. Every case has one thing in common, the victims died from blood loss resulting from a wound made in the shape of X mark. Suddenly, the police detain a man called Mamiya (Masato Hagiwara) who suffers from memory loss. Takabe is convinced that Mamiya is responsible for the killings because he possesses an extraordinary hypnotic power...

The Beast Within
I have seen Cure while I was on my binge trip through the hallmarks of Japanese Cinema a few good years ago. I went in completely cold without having read anything about the storyline, and I was absolutely amazed by how gripping Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s picture actually is.

First of all, the screenplay is fantastic. From the first few scenes you think that the film is going to play out like an ordinary police procedural, but all of a sudden, things make a U-turn, and we get a morbid tale as if cooked up by Stephen King himself. After the movie ends, you just can’t help but think about all the plot twists! The whole affair is told in a slow, sparing manner, so the viewer really needs to bring all the pieces together.

The cinematography is another interesting aspect. Most of the shots are very static and encompass more than one character in a frame. It reminded me greatly about Memories of Murder (2003) and, after doing some reading, I was surprised to discover that director Boon Joon Ho cites Cure (1997) as one of major inspirations that made him pursue filmmaking.

What is more, I like that Kurosawa does not rely in his movies on overt gore or jumpscares. The unsettling feeling of Cure lies within its mood and themes. The movie provides a brilliant mix of psychoanalysis and hypnosis grounded very neatly within the Japanese convention. In a society that thrives on hierarchy and team work, it is disheartening to see the main protagonist looking after his mentally-ill wife.

With regard to performances, Koji Yakusho evidently dominates the screen with his presence of a righteous cop, but Masato Higawara as the illusive Mamiya is just as awesome. The late Anne Nakagawa is also memorable as Takabe’s wife. I also give a shout out to Tsuyoshi Ujiki as Sakuma, the psychiatrist. His character may be there for exposition purposes only, but he also has a super crazy dream sequence.

Recommendations
If you are in the mood for a psychological examination of the Japanese collective psyche, then I recommend Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure. Three years ago, the movie was released in Europe on DVD as well as Blu-Ray. When it comes to deep dives into the dark corners of the subconscious, then Cure will not let you down.
Overall score: 9/10

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Pulse (2001) [Film Review]

Pulse: or, Nowhere to Run

     In 10 years, or at least while we're still alive, they'll invent a drug that prevents death. Then, we could live forever and ever. Of course, you might think I'm crazy to say that, but... I'd rather bet on that. 

Having been inspired by the J-Horror discussion club last Spring, I grabbed Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse movie from 2001. Although not as famous as Cure (1997), the movie is an interesting take on the apocalypse scenario triggered by internet connection.

Release Info

Directed by: Kiyoshi Kurosawa Starring: Kimiko Aso, Haruhiko Kato, Koyuki

Language: Japanese Original Title: 回路 Runtime: 118 min

Synopsis

Kudo Michi (Kumiko Aso) works at a plant shop in Tokyo. One day, her co-worker, who was working on a computer disc, went missing. Michi goes to his apartment and the man in question hangs himself in her presence. Fellow friends inspect the contents of the disc and discover that it contains an image of Taguchi staring at his own computer monitor. In the meantime, Ryousuke (Haruhiko Kato), an economics student, tries to set up an internet connection in his apartment. Nevertheless, his computer accesses a website on its own, showing him disturbing images of people alone in dark rooms, exhibiting strange behavior. Ryosuke consults Harue (Koyuki), a computer expert at his university about the problem. They discover that ghosts are slipping into our reality...

Portal to Another World 

Evidently, Pulse came out at the heyday of J-Horror when the market was flooded with numerous titles after the successful release of Ring in 1998. Kurosawa’s movie has a very gripping storyline, and thankfully does not rely on jumpscares. Come to think of it, the movie does not even contain explicit graphic content. As a result, I would classify it more as a mystery thriller rather than a proper horror.

The depressing mood of the picture is evidently its greatest advantage. Why are the main characters so afraid of loneliness? Why are they visited by ghosts? The viewers eventually get all the answers in this slow-burn story, and the overall explanation is really a downer. Pulse is yet another Japanese film which ponders upon an existentialist worldview. In a society where one individual can easily suffer from isolation, is there any hope for happiness at all?

In terms of disadvantages, it has to be pointed out that Pulse actually has a few CGI sequences, but these did not age well. However, considering the fact that it was the year 2001 and Japanese Cinema was at the beginning of utilising digital effects, this aspect is forgivable. However, completely unforgivable is a cheap screenwriting trick in the course of which a completely random guy provides clueless Ryousuke with a much-needed exposition halfway through the film. 

Still, I greatly enjoyed the production design. The empty streets of Tokyo looked amazing and close encounters in “forbidden rooms” are classic. The sound editing also has to be praised, especially in the scenes involving ghosts “communicating” with our heroes. 

With regard to performances, I think that Kumiko Aso, Haruhiko Kato, and Koyuki did a great job. They were not that recognisable back in 2001 as they are today, but their performances are indeed memorable. Interestingly, Koji Yakusho has a small appearance as well.

Recommendations

If you look for an old J-Horror that strives to depress you rather than scare you, then Pulse is the perfect choice. It is a unique endeavour from director Kiyoshi Kurosawa which definitely has creepy moments and an uncanny atmosphere. I guess the best way to avoid the plight of the characters is to refrain from using Internet Explorer as the main browser. By the way, I would like to use this opportunity to give a shout out to Phoenix Talks Pop Culture Japan and her awesome analysis of Pulse. Go check it out if you can.

Overall score: 8/10

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