Shikoku

i just finished this movie and really enjoyed it. i have never been a fan of American horror movies, however the latest batch of of horror movies from Asia such as the eye, phone, a tale of two sisters etc. have been great.

if you want a scary movie do not get Shikoku go watch phone or something else, this movie was a good drama dealing with the death of loved ones, and tragic love the supernatural aspects of this movie were mearly a back ground to provided loss and broken dreams. In my opinion this movie and the eye are not horror but Dramas with supernatural aspects

At first this is fantastic, we have had a glimpse of some children on the Japanese island of Shikoku. There is something strange going on and there are some magical colours and mist rather eerie coming and going and a folk festival. Time passes and Hinako , living in Tokyo returns to her childhood home to meet her two friends. But things go wrong when she wants to see them and then she thinks she has seen a ghost, as have we. For about the first hour it is fine but it becomes rather slow and we are waiting for some action. When we get romance it was rather a surprise and then things get rather silly and it is something like a children's story.

I recently watched the Japanese horror 🇯🇵 film Shikoku (1999) on Shudder. The story follows a young woman who returns to her childhood home, hoping to reconnect with a friend she lost contact with after moving away. Upon arriving, she discovers that her friend has died and that her friend's mother is in a dramatic stage of grief. Soon after, she begins seeing the ghost of her friend, leading her to uncover the mystery behind what happened and why.

Directed by Shunichi Nagasaki (The Enchantment), the film features a solid cast, including Yui Natsukawa (The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi), Chiaki Kuriyama (Kill Bill), Tarô Suwa (Battle Royale), and Toshie Negishi (Audition).

Shikoku is one of those films that has just enough going for it to hold your attention but doesn't particularly stand out in the genre. The first half is a slow burn, though I did enjoy the opening possession sequence. The lighting, costumes, and settings create a solid atmosphere, which works well for the tone of the film. The horror elements are decent, and I particularly liked the "backbreaking" scenes and accompanying sound effects-they were eerie but ultimately left me wanting more. The plot is fairly straightforward and incorporates many elements that feel derivative of Ringu, albeit with its own twist.

In conclusion, Shikoku has a decent storyline and atmosphere but lacks the impact to make a lasting impression. I'd rate it a very average 5/10.

I'll be the first to point out that if you're a fan of the 'Ju On' series of films or something similar, you may find this a disappointment. It has a few creepy moments but overall it moves a steady, gentle pace to allow for the story to unfold. The 3 main characters at the foreground of this movie (Sayori, Hinako, and Fumiya) are each quite intriguing and flawed. But i'd have to say the character of Sayori is the most developed and faceted while the other 2 merely support her and the plot.

Now this was not a complaint of mine but of the boyfriend that watched this picture with me. So this may bother other would-be viewers. It is mostly shot with what seems to be a hand-held camera so it will wobble and shake. (Please correct me on this as I am unfamiliar with the many cameras and styles of shooting.) In specific moments of the movie, it seemed to add to the suspense. I thought they did a fair job of setting the mood as well. There were just a couple of times where say background music that had been edited in seemed to loud or didn't quite settle in with the flow of events. Particularly during some personal exchanges between Hinako and Fumiya.

The basic premise of this movie is set around Hinako, whom moved away from Shikoku as a little girl and has returned to take care of family business. She left behind 2 childhood friends, Sayori and Fumiya, that she was hoping to see again as well. Unfortunately she finds out that Sayori died when she was in high school and her mother, the local priestess lost her mind and has been on this pilgrimage for the past 8 years to visit the 88 temples on the island. Naturally strange things begin to happen once Hinako has started to settle in. She and Fumiya together start to investigate. Much to their horror, they find out that this pilgrimage Sayori's mother has been doing is apart of a ritual which would turn the island into the land of the dead!

A spooky little movie that moves along at a good pace. Fine performances, not the most chilling thing ever, but eerie and enjoyable. A heavy reliance on hand-held shots makes everything seem very immediate. Oh, and the title is an interesting play on words.