Karuto

From very early on the picture will sometimes pause so the camera can zoom in, showing us something subtle in the background that's supposed to be spooky. Only, it's often so subtle that at best we won't see it until it's heavily emphasized, and at worst, there's nothing to be seen at all. Oops! Elsewhere, when events are progressing normally, the tone is so flat, and the incidence of an actor's movement or a "supernatural" happening so forthright, that the artificiality of it all is laid bare in the moment - or perhaps one may be inclined to wonder if this wasn't actually intended to be a parody all along. Further feeding into the latter point, some examples accompanied by a "gasp!" (or, you know, intended to be) are just information imparted through dialogue with a similarly flat tone; some plot development curiously operates in the same manner. Moreover, where visuals are added in post-production in what is ostensibly a "found footage" flick, the usage is often so gauchely, obviously false that one has to ponder how this could have been released while looking so bad.

I've watched a few of Shiraishi Koji's films. I thought 'Noroi,' his major film debut, was possibly one of the best horror films I've ever seen; on the opposite end of the spectrum, 'Teketeke 2' was just rubbish, and I fully turned off 'Groteseque' after just a few minutes (something I never, ever do except under highly atypical circumstances). I sat to watch 2013's 'Cult' with mixed expectations, and boy howdy, it is not good. Good grief, the character "Neo" is basically just an unrealistic, caricatured manga character conceived as a "real person," and for as dubious as the picture was from the outset, the writing really seems to go downhill when they enter the story about halfway through. Some beats are altogether senseless, as they rely on the total incompetence of supposed professionals: key locations in-universe are shown to be set up with cameras, but over the course of many days no one is apparently checking footage. I feel bad for the cast, because they very pointedly do not come off well. I feel bad for the effects artists, who presumably had the skill to do better, but were seemingly denied the opportunity to do better with the computer-generated imagery that presents; as it is, the phrase "they didn't even try" might best describe the CGI.

There are good ideas here, sure, in (most of) the narrative and scene writing. Maybe not so much in the characterizations, least of all in the initial conceit of actresses hired to join a "paranormal investigation" program, and it's unfortunate that the whole is so meager and flimsy, including a terribly clunky back end where plot is dispensed like rocks forced through a paper straw. I like the thoughts that went into Haishima Kuniaki's score, though the music itself is underwhelming and questionably mixed. I like the notions underlying the CGI, but I'm inclined to think that even had the digital rendering been given a chance to be ideally realized, the same notions could have been better visualized with practical effects and camera tricks. Earnest intent went into these eighty-four minutes - but not, regrettably, earnest care. What potential the feature had is never given a real chance to flourish, and all things considered, there was never much potential to begin with. I don't know what happened to Shirashi after crafting the incredible 'Noroi' eight years before, but this stumbles significantly in entirely too many ways, and pretty much right from the start.

It's still true that there are far worse movies in the world. 'Cult' is so limp and unconvincing, however, that for the level on which it operates, the distinction is all but meaningless. I guess I'm glad for those who get more out of this than I do, but I can't imagine ever giving it as a recommendation. Alas.

It feels like that this movie tried so hard to be on par with the excellent 'Noroi'. Koji Shiraishi, wanted to exploit Cthulian horror again, but he really ended up with a 'wannabe-Noroi'.

Adding a K-pop protagonist, and reducing the horror to worms, which this time are visible, not ectoplasmic, and tangible, extinguishes the scariness of this movie, unlike the lurking Lovecraftian entities in 'Noroi' and 'Occult', the 'bakemono' is now material.

However, despite the tangibility of the demonic entity in this movie, I like - which I hope is true - the disparity of the techniques used to show both human and demonic subjects.

I believe that this deliberate use of what-is-being-criticized-for-being-bad-special-effects, actually serves a purpose. This being that it sets a contrast in between what is real and preternatural.

This out-of-placeness of the supernatural object allows the mind to strongly reject their presence in the setting, which is why I feel, people were reacting so vehemently against the CGIs used in both 'Occult' and 'Cult'.

Nonetheless, the self-plagiarism feeling was very off-putting: the theme, the tone, the characters, the direction, the colouring and lighting effect, hell even the SCORE felt borrowed, from his previous movie.

It sucks that Koji could not exploit the 'Kami' myths/stories/legends/folklore which his country so abundantly offers.

I have no idea what the hell I watched but stuff was entertaining as hell. 10/10 no cap. Neo carried the movie though. Also I'm just tryna get the 150 character cap so I can post this. I gotta appreciate the work put into this.

Shiraishi's Occult movie and Noroi managed to impress me, those movies were found footage classics, but I couldn't get that energy in this movie, the movie progresses very monotonously and after a point, I got into the mood of watching Ghostbusters, I couldn't devote myself to the movie and create a solid character in the second half of the movie. Even though he tried to fix it, it wasn't enough, the dialogues were very strange and there were constantly shouting elements, even though it got into the subject, it was literally like a comedy, and even though it included mythological elements and the cult issue, I couldn't hold on to the movie.

I don't know if you can still watch it to give Shiraishi a chance, but try it anyway, I couldn't hold on to it very well.

3/10.

Three young actresses are hired to help a documentarian film an exorcism at the house of a young girl and her mother. Cameras are set up everywhere as the supernatural events start to unfold.

Numerous exorcists are brought in to help but the problem only seems to get worse as everyone is drawn into a nightmare of demons and curses.

This Japanese found footage entry is a refreshing take on the sub-genre as some original elements are introduced that take a different direction from the Paranormal Activity franchise. There is a bit of humour injected into some of the characters which makes the experience a bit more enjoyable.

Some of the effects are a bit hokey but others are original and creepy and atmospheric. There are enough twists and turns to keep the viewer's attention as the tension escalates.

The three girls get a little annoying at times but do a passable job in their roles and some of the secondary characters really stand out.

All in all an interesting and refreshing Cult movie from Japan.