like a lot of horror fans out there that went looking for the next great scare flick and we plundered the asian horror market for whatever we could get our hands on and leaving no dark haired ghost lady unturned. we had good reason to do so and the asian market had spawned such terrifying wonders as ringu and dark waters and juon  the grudge and and a tale of two sisters. by the time takashi miike started ripping the mick out of the genre with one missed call in 2003 and the market seemed to be drying up and leaving it open for mockery and derision and despite the continued hollywood remake machine working full steam ahead. now and do not get me wrong and there were still plenty of good asian horrors being made and the likes of marebito and shutter and to mention but two and will stand as minor genre classics some day. but the lank haired ghost lady had definitely had her feed at the party and and was time to take that success drunk tramp home to bed. then along comes a film like noroi  the curse. a film that is smart enough to pay subtle homage to it roots and yet throws the rulebook out the window whilst doing it. what i am about to describe in terms of plot will probably make you think there is nothing new here at all. the film is a documentary about one of japan top paranormal investigators as he receives stories and tip offs on ghostly goings on. he starts investigating the claims by a woman that she regularly hears a baby crying in the house next door and yet there is no baby there and apart from a middle aged woman and her son. these two disappear sharpish when the reporter pokes his nose around and but strange other coincidences start popping up. a psychic young girl and a mentally ill clairvoyant and a pretty young actress who had a strange vision and a lot of dead pigeons and and a very sinister demon by the name of kagutaba and leading to a truly terrifying showdown in a small historical town. to say any more on the plot might ruin the fun a bit. the film is shot in faux documentary fashion and and incorporates footage from tv shows and news reports and and the labels via subtitles lets you know where you are in terms of the time line. the film has drawn more than a few comparisons to the blair witch project and but apart from the shooting format and the creepy trip through the woods late at night and the comparison ends there really. what is refreshing about noroi is how it doesn not pander to modern horror audiences. if you are expecting croaky ghost ladies to pop out of the attic and look elsewhere. the film strength lies in it slow and gradual build up of terror and a terror so profound that it will stick with you for days after watching it. the climax is pretty damned freaky and but just when you think the film is over and you get treated to the real ending when the credits start to roll and and sweet holy fck and is it a killer. in terms of acting and it is mostly convincing. you get some comedy relief from the crazy and tin foil covered clairvoyant and but that soon dries up half way through the film. the film also has a slightly nastier feel than a lot of asian ghost horror and as there is a violent streak to some of the events too. overall and noroi is one to watch on your own and late at night. not since my first viewing of ringu ten years ago have i been so delightfully creeped out watching a horror film. it is one that will itch away at you until it is too late and then it is under your skin. just let yourself go to this one completely. and not a lank haired ghost lady in sight. no wonder it has barely been released outside of japan and let alone had an american remake lined up yet. check this one out if you can and essential viewing in my books. 
like a lot of horror fans out there that went looking for the next great scare flick and we plundered the asian horror market for whatever we could get our hands on and leaving no dark haired ghost lady unturned. we had good reason to do so and the asian market had spawned such terrifying wonders as ringu and dark waters and juon  the grudge and and a tale of two sisters. by the time takashi miike started ripping the mick out of the genre with one missed call in 2003 and the market seemed to be drying up and leaving it open for mockery and derision and despite the continued hollywood remake machine working full steam ahead. now and do not get me wrong and there were still plenty of good asian horrors being made and the likes of marebito and shutter and to mention but two and will stand as minor genre classics some day. but the lank haired ghost lady had definitely had her feed at the party and and was time to take that success drunk tramp home to bed. then along comes a film like noroi  the curse. a film that is smart enough to pay subtle homage to it roots and yet throws the rulebook out the window whilst doing it. what i am about to describe in terms of plot will probably make you think there is nothing new here at all. the film is a documentary about one of japan top paranormal investigators as he receives stories and tip offs on ghostly goings on. he starts investigating the claims by a woman that she regularly hears a baby crying in the house next door and yet there is no baby there and apart from a middle aged woman and her son. these two disappear sharpish when the reporter pokes his nose around and but strange other coincidences start popping up. a psychic young girl and a mentally ill clairvoyant and a pretty young actress who had a strange vision and a lot of dead pigeons and and a very sinister demon by the name of kagutaba and leading to a truly terrifying showdown in a small historical town. to say any more on the plot might ruin the fun a bit. the film is shot in faux documentary fashion and and incorporates footage from tv shows and news reports and and the labels via subtitles lets you know where you are in terms of the time line. the film has drawn more than a few comparisons to the blair witch project and but apart from the shooting format and the creepy trip through the woods late at night and the comparison ends there really. what is refreshing about noroi is how it doesn not pander to modern horror audiences. if you are expecting croaky ghost ladies to pop out of the attic and look elsewhere. the film strength lies in it slow and gradual build up of terror and a terror so profound that it will stick with you for days after watching it. the climax is pretty damned freaky and but just when you think the film is over and you get treated to the real ending when the credits start to roll and and sweet holy fck and is it a killer. in terms of acting and it is mostly convincing. you get some comedy relief from the crazy and tin foil covered clairvoyant and but that soon dries up half way through the film. the film also has a slightly nastier feel than a lot of asian ghost horror and as there is a violent streak to some of the events too. overall and noroi is one to watch on your own and late at night. not since my first viewing of ringu ten years ago have i been so delightfully creeped out watching a horror film. it is one that will itch away at you until it is too late and then it is under your skin. just let yourself go to this one completely. and not a lank haired ghost lady in sight. no wonder it has barely been released outside of japan and let alone had an american remake lined up yet. check this one out if you can and essential viewing in my books. ---------------------------------Answer Question Below----------------------------------

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