Withinhorrorcinema, thefound footagesub-genre arguably has the most dedicated fan base, with many enthusiasts sticking to POV terrors and willing to explore every project, whether big or small, and discuss it with other fans. The genre continues to grow as new filmmakers emerge with new takes on using a first-person narrative to tell a story. You have the brilliant exploration of the isolation and depression in teenage life online inWe’re All Going to the World’s Fair, as well as the audiovisual absurdist assaults of Johannes Grenzfurthner’s work, highlighted best in his recent film,Solvent.
Still, the found footage genre has been defined by its classics, withThe Blair Witch Projectoften considered the quintessential horror experience that defined the genre, even if it was not the first found footage film (that honor goes tothe controversialCannibal Holocaust). While innovation in the genre exists, some films have achieved timeless status. FollowingThe Blair Witch Project, the 2005 horror filmNoroi: The Cursehas remained at the top of many fans' favorite lists for good reason.
‘Noroi: The Curse’ Remains One of the Most Terrifying Found Footage Films 20 Years After Its Release
Noroi: The Curse
Presented as a documentary by fictional paranormal investigator Masafumi Kobayashi (Jin Muraki),Noroi: The Cursepieces together interviews and investigations around the most disturbing case ever shown on television. What starts as a series of what seem like unconnected events, a mother and son followed by the cries of kids, a young psychic who claims to see “ectoplasmic worms,” and an actress hunted by ghastly visions after visiting a shrine, slowly starts to come together to tell of a larger sinister force.
While the film is sparse on scares until its conclusion,the weaving together of different stories through found footage, news reports, and interviews offers a fully immersive experience. This strings viewers along, trying to connect the pieces of what is happening, along with investigator Masafumi Kobayashi. With the goal of most found footage films being to build the illusion that the audience is watching something real,Noroi: The Curseachieves this in all its elements. Much likeThe Blair Witch Projectmade many believe they were watching the last moments of a group of film students,Noroi: The Cursegives the impression of tuning into Japanese TV and being shown real-life events presented to the audience as factual.
The 35 Greatest Japanese Movies of All Time, Ranked
From action-packed samurai epics and heartbreaking human dramas to sprawling animated adventures, Japanese movies have a magic that is all their own.
Similar to TheBlair Witch Project,Noroi: The Cursemanages to deliver some impressive performances from unknown actors, further immersing the viewer in the illusion that everything happening could be real. However, the real mastermind behind the project, director Koji Shirashi, has proven through his work that the masterfully executedNoroi: The Curseis not just a fluke.
Director Koji Shirashi Has Proven Himself To Be a Master of the Found Footage Genre
Director Koji Shirashi has become a name held in high regard among fans of found footage, even though his definitive work isNoroi :The Curse, he continues to create content in the genre. His 2009 filmOccult, for example, achieves all the same horrific highs asNoroi, utilizing similar narrative devices yet still stands strong on its own; some even consider it superior. Yet, much of his work only exists as fan translations online, for which he has received abundant praise, particularly among J-Horror Fans. Notably, his “Senritsu Kaiki File” series of films highlights Japanese urban legends, such as the slit-mouthed woman, the toilet-bound ghost, and the Kappa.
One aspect that makesNoroi: The Cursedistinct is its Japanese identity,steeped in the country’s folklore and culture, delivered in a way that intrigues instead of isolates audiences. This is a trend that Shirashi has continued throughout his career, reflecting his love of the found footage format and his drive to explore Japan’s darker corners and present them to a broader audience. This is also part of what makesNoroi: The Cursesuch a success, as the passion and love are always evident in Shirashi’s work. Every found footage film Koji Shirashi creates further cements him as the best director working in the genre today; there is no one as prolific as he is in the genre.
Why You Need to Watch ‘Noroi: The Curse’
A word of warning:Noroi: The Curseisa slow-burning horror film, a label that is bound to raise pitchforks among a portion of the fan base; if you want faster-paced found footage scares, consider[Rec].Noroirequires patience, but it is one of those films that pays off with an unforgettable ending. The final moments of the movie will stick with the viewer forever, a formula that Shirashi has nailed in his career. Shirashi has become one of the most respected directors in all of J-Horror, despite not being associated with major franchises likeThe GrudgeorRing, due to his ability to build and deliver shocking conclusions.
10 Horror Mystery Movies That Will Keep You Guessing Until the End
These films perfectly blend mystery and horror to craft an unforgettable viewing experience.
Noroi: The Curseis a must-watch; it remains one ofthe best found footage movies ever made, even twenty years after its release. The best part is that ifNoroiconnects with new viewers, as it has already done to many, there is a deep rabbit hole to go down in Koji Shirashi’s works that deliver all sorts of new terrors you won’t find in the West.Check outNoroi: The Curse, which is streaming on Shudder now. You won’t regret it.
