#koji shiraishi

[sacredwhores]

Koji Shiraishi - Noroi: The Curse (2005)

[spiraphobia]

Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi! | Dir. Kōji Shiraishi

Synopsis:

The Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi! series is a Japanese found-footage horror saga directed by Kōji Shiraishi, best known for his work on Noroi: The Curse. The series follows a film crew led by director Kudo, assistant Ichikawa, and cameraman Tashiro, who investigate supernatural occurrences rooted in Japanese folklore, including urban legends like the Slit-Mouthed Woman and Kokkuri-san. As the crew delves deeper into these eerie investigations, they encounter increasingly bizarre and terrifying phenomena.

This has been sitting in my watchlist forever. Sharing this for anyone who likes found footage-style horror.

[dawn-in-the--adan]

"this has the same meaning as it did before. the oracle of god’s orders. however, this here… probably means some sort of great calamity. it could be a natural disaster or something involving human action. we can say it is a great disaster that stems directly from here. a great calamity that was ordered by god." Occult (2009)

[air-rising]

— Noroi: The Curse (ノロイ), 2005

[marypickfords]

Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi! File 04: The Truth! Hanako-san in the toilet (Koji Shiraishi, 2013)

[motoressagrados]

Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi! File 02: Shivering Ghost, dir. Koji Shiraishi, 2012.

[jellyghostspace]

Exorcise demons around Japan, find the cure for a terrible curse, unravel a mystery through multiple generations and  between dimensions, Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi is the scariest RPG ever made!! Based on Koji Shiraishi's found footage horror universe, SKFK!RPG is coming soon* to PC and consoles. Can you find your way through the worm dimension and save the world from an evil god?

Over 8 locales to explore and investigate!

Up to 15 bosses between 20 files!

More than 50 minor demons to exorcise, based on Shiraishi's films!

Every team member has their own story!

Mix and match party members to discover the perfect team chemistry!

*not really, this is just a mockup

[dare-g]

Dead Girl Walking (2004)

[ddzzaaii]

noroi: the curse dir. koji shiraishi

[a-horrible-way-to-dan]

Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi! File 01: Operation Capture the Slit-Mouthed Woman (2012) - Dir: Koji Shiraishi

[amazingmrcinema007]

May 2024 be the year Noroi: The Curse gets a proper physical release.

[rookie-critic]

Rookie-Critic's Halloween Horror-thon: Part 2 - #6-10

#6: Doctor Sleep: The Director's Cut (2019, dir. Mike Flanagan)

I have, of course, seen Doctor Sleep before, but I am not labeling this as a re-watch because the Director's Cut of this film, while not really that different from a plotting/through line perspective, is a wholly unique experience to the theatrical version of the film from a character perspective. This version of the movie gives you much more context around the its antagonists, The True Knot, and it's secondary protagonist, Abra Stone, that those major story beats existing in both versions hit with much more impact in the director's cut. It bumped this particular work of Flanagan's up in my ranking of his stuff all the way to third behind Hill House and, now, Usher.

Score: 9/10

Not currently available on streaming.

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#7: Gemini (1999, dir. Shinya Tsukamoto)

This one surprised me by not being the kind of film I was anticipating it to be (this happened a handful of times this month). Gemini is the story of three characters plagued by their circumstances/upbringings, and a look at classism and people's desire to give and receive love, shot and told in a frenetic, gonzo style that only Japanese cult-director Shinya Tsukamoto can make work. Tear down the walls of your expectations for this one, it's a great watch.

Score: 8/10

Not currently available on streaming.

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#8: Nightmare Detective 2 (2008, dir. Shinya Tsukamoto)

The sequel to Tsukamoto's lukewarmly received 2006 film Nightmare Detective (which you will see further down on this list), this one makes the original look like a litmus test for the concept. A much more restrained and patient film compared to just about all of Tsukamoto's prior efforts, Nightmare Detective 2 sits in the corner, quietly analyzing its core cast in a story about misfits and generational trauma. Really, a lot of the themes and ideas presented here would be honed in on and presented again, albeit from a different viewpoint, in Kotoko. This one really feels like a turning point for Tsukamoto in terms of tone and approach. Not to say that his earlier, more frantic films aren't sometimes just as good, it's just the mark of a talent that's willing to evolve.

Score: 8/10

Not currently available on streaming (this film has actually never seen any kind of official release in the States at all, so unless you're willing to do a little swashbuckling, this one's out of your reach).

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#9: The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970, dir. Dario Argento)

Horror icon Dario Argento's (Suspiria, Deep Red) debut feature is an unrivaled "whodunit" mystery thriller with that hallmark giallo flair that Argento would become known for. There isn't a whole lot to say about this one other than this was one of the most singularly entertaining of my October viewings, and that I highly recommend it for just about anyone.

Score: 8/10

Currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

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#10: Noroi: The Curse (2005, dir. Koji Shiraishi)

This is the best Japanese found footage horror has to offer. Noroi is told in a documentary style, acting as the discovered footage of the final film made by a supernatural investigator that has disappeared without a trace. This was my final watch of the Horror-thon and I couldn't think of a better way to send off the spooky month, because this was one of, if not the scariest watch of the entire month. It had me wanting to turn the lights on and sleep with one eye open, and certain images from the film's final moments will be burned into my retinas until I die. If I had any complaints, it's that I honestly could have used even more, although I guess an argument could be made that that's actually one of the film's good qualities.

Score: 8/10

Currently streaming on AMC+/Shudder.

[spiraphobia]

House of Sayuri (2024)

Directed by: Koji Shiraishi

Genre: Horror, Supernatural

Synopsis:

The Kamiki family has moved into their dream single-family home. The happy time of the 7-member family was short-lived. A family where each member dies one by one, with strange laughter heard from somewhere. There is something in this house… ~ Adapted from the manga series "Sayuri" (サユリ) by Oshikiri Rensuke (押切蓮介).

An exciting horror manga adaptation!

I love Oshikiri Rensuke's works, especially Misu Misou, and I just finished reading Sayuri as well - which is another awesome recommendation. This manga has a ton of creepy and insane moments!

I couldn't find this movie streaming anywhere, but I hope it becomes available soon. Oh, and have I mentioned that it's directed by the same director who brought us Noroi: The Curse, Dark Tales of Japan, and Occult? I'm even more excited now! Here's the trailer:

[dawn-in-the--adan]

"it's hell! it's hell! shiraishi-kun! help me!" Occult (2009)

[dreamgirlsdiary7]

The kanji characters for "disaster, tool and spirit."

The 3 characters make up the word Kagutaba.

A tool that's capable of causing disasters.

[marypickfords]

Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi! Final Chapter (Koji Shiraishi, 2015)