Takakura is a former detective. He receives a request from his ex-colleague, Nogami, to examine a missing family case that occurred 6 years earlier. Takakura follows the memories of the only surviving family member from the case. Meanwhile, Takakura and his wife Yasuko recently moved into a new home. Their neighbor, Nishino, has a sick wife and a teenage daughter. One day, the daughter jumps into Takakura's path and tells him that the man is not her father and she doesn't know him at all.
Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa has really carved out a place for himself in the world of horror cinema. He received global recognition for "Cure" and exploded with "Pulse". After some time exploring non-horror projects, he has returned with "Creepy", which blends American-style serial killer thrillers (such as "Silence of the Lambs") with horror themes unique to Japan.
And "Creepy" is what has come to be known as the "slow burn" sort of horror film. At over two hours, very little happens in the first half. We come to understand why Takakura retired from the police force, and we meet his creepy neighbor Nishino, who has very poor social skills. But not one instance of horror can be pointed to – no jumps, no ghosts, nothing out of place. There is a death that occurs as part of a hostage situation, but it lies firmly in the category of a police / action scene, not horror.
The slower pace and build-up might make the film seem like a thriller or suspense film rather than straight horror. Granted, it is a fine line, and there is a great deal of suspense in "Creepy". But the horror aspects make themselves known in the second half and we are treated to some over-the-top imagery that calls to mind Takaski Miike's "Audition". I will not give anything away here other than to say the manner in which bodies are disposed of is a way I have never seen in a film before. (And with thousands of horror titles rattling around in my brain, that's quite a feat.)
Prolific actor Hidetoshi Nishijima makes a great leading man, exuding confidence and charm. He seems to have a bad habit of roughing up those around him (perhaps he has forgotten he retired and is now a professor), but this adds a nice edge to the character. His wife is played by Yûko Takeuchi, who might be familiar to American audiences for her part in "Ringu". TV actress Haruna Kawaguchi, who plays the victim Saki Honda, is little more than a damsel in distress, but she does that well.
Of course, the real star of the film is Teruyuki Kagawa, who expertly displays an awkward way of speaking and moving. He walks like a social outcast, if such a thing is possible. And, of course, his eyes give him that "creepy" look. Americans who only know Japanese horror actors will be new to Kagawa, but he is actually a big deal in his home country – and following in the footsteps of his father, who was in kabuki theater. I would love to see more Kagawa in the horror genre, as he definitely has a non-traditional look.
Kurosawa has another winner on his hands with "Creepy". By no means would I expect this to become as big as "Pulse" was, but it clearly has the potential to go international. And if someone decides to do an American remake, it would only shed more light on this deserving film. (No remake could capture some of the aspects that make this film intrinsically Japanese, such as the architecture. But it doesn't mean someone won't try.) "Creepy" has its North American premiere July 26, 2016 at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
