Sweet Home

Not the best horror film. But not everything is bad, production design and shot composition are actually pretty good. And music was good at times and really bad at some others. It was a bit too long for what it was in the end but nonetheless interesting to watch.

I would agree with the other reviewers that this is essentially a Japanese take on POLTERGEIST. Do not let that stop you from seeing it however.

If there was any way to truly describe this film, it would be if Dario Argento (during his heyday in the late 70's) directed a film with Japanese stars. Every shot has the look and the lighting from films like SUSPIRIA, PHENOMENA, TENEBRAE, even down to the tracking shots and steadycam work.

Which brings me to another point: if there is anyone who has a VHS/ laserdisc/ DVD of this film (preferrably with english subtitles), please let us know. I have a copy but it could have better image quality.

Regardless, seek this film out. You will not be disappointed.

You can't talk about Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Sweet Home without mentioning that it would later go on to inspire the Resident Evil series and is primarily the reason we have the survival horror genre as we know it today. It's a film whose reputation proceeds it, partly due to the fact it has had no official release since it was VHS, thus has been confined to relative obscurity and infamy because of this. I did manage to track down a Blu-ray release of this although it's only an upscale from a seemingly forgotten DVD source, but it's better than nothing. I get very strong Hausu vibes from Sweet Home with its female perspective at centre stage, with the maternal strength they possess. Despite being an early Kiyoshi Kurosawa picture, he nails the feel of what I can only describe as a Japanese take on The Evil Dead, even if the pacing is a little wonky. But when coupled with the pretty gruesome effects work, makeup and awesome synth score by Masaya Matsuura, Sweet Home has enough visual madness to cut through the muddy picture quality.

It's a delightful bit of trivia to learn that 'Sweet home' had a companion release in 1989 in the form of a videogame by Capcom, effectively serving as the origin of the acclaimed 'Resident evil' series. The very premise alone suggests "survival horror," and as the film progresses, one most definitely can see how it became a source of inspiration. More importantly, though - putting aside that kernel of knowledge, from the very beginning this is fantastically captivating, and it only ever gets better.

I immediately love the great attention obviously given to set design and decoration, costume design and characters' appearances, and instant, gathering uneasy atmosphere. Outstanding use of lighting and shadow, effects, camerawork including unconventional angles and fetching shots, sound design, and set pieces cement that atmosphere even before events truly begin to pick up. The art direction and production design is phenomenal; filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa has clearly assembled a highly experienced, expert crew, and all the effort readily pays off.

Well-rounded and diverse characters are portrayed a bit ham-handedly in early scenes of exposition, and that slant is echoed in all aspects including composer Masaya Matsuura's score. But initial playfulness shifts deftly as eerie incidents begin to manifest, and the music lends much to the disquieting ambience, building excitement, and acutely jarring moments. Likewise - it would require an overabundance of words to expound on all the ways in which the cast excels, but suffice to say that all involved dexterously keep in step with the shift in tone, and masterfully realize their roles with marvelous range, nuance, and physicality. Every meticulous detail and delicate touch in the film's craft is fully and ably employed in the execution of a feature at once greatly suspenseful, unsettling, and yet most definitely fun.

Some horror movies take so long to move towards disturbing and frightful imagery that the viewer feels a bit bereft. In that vein, 'Sweet home' takes its time to advance toward concrete dread and terror such that the narrative flow feels perfectly natural. To my pleasure, however, it's so intent on eliciting visceral reaction that the majority of the runtime fulfills our craving for the genre instead of just setting up the course of events. What we get is more fiercely realized exercise of all those elements that had already initially impressed. Visual and practical effects, makeup, lighting, and props are all employed with exquisite results, including considerable blood and gore. Truthfully, the concept and design of most instances of the horror-laden specifics remind of the work of John Carpenter (a tall comparison if ever there were one). Fear is subjective, but scenes are unquestionably chilling, jolting, wonderfully unnerving, and at times genuinely horrifying.

At that - while the film's focus is certainly on horror, Kurosawa's skill as a writer squarely matches his eye as a director. The screenplay is magnificent in every regard - strong characterizations, dialogue, scenes, and an absolutely solid overall narrative, with turns and surprises that feel as vividly alive as the Mamiya mansion and all within. At its absolute core 'Sweet home' may be a haunted house flick, but it's a grave mistake to dismiss it as just another slice of spooky goings-on in an old home - this is so, so much more than the root premise portends.

I excitedly sat to watch with marginally high expectations but no meaningful foreknowledge, and I've been totally blown away. This is utterly exceptional. I claim no perfect knowledge, but in my opinion this is one of the very best horror movies I've ever seen, and I'm flabbergasted that from where I stand it seems to be such a comparatively obscure title. In my mind it at least stands toe to toe with the very best horror that the storied US or British film industries have ever had to offer, and I firmly believe it far exceeds most genre pictures one could name.

I could continue but I'd start repeating myself and exhausting the thesaurus. Kiyoshi Kurosawa has made a riveting, nearly unrivaled treasure of horror. Anyone who enjoys this type of movie needs to watch it immediately. There's little more to be said; this gets my utmost, profound recommendation: 'Sweet home' is a masterpiece.

First off, to anyone who sees the version I did. The film starts out with a commercial of the video game based on the movie. They show some scenes from the movie, and pretty good ones at that. So, if you start the flick and see a video game commercial I'd turn my head away just so you don't ruin anything for yourself.

Japanese Horror is something of a hit or miss with me. I'm not a fan of the jerky ghosts who walk like they have rheumatoid arthritis, or the pale-faced long hair girls. I'm not saying those movies can't deliver a chill or two, but overall it's a very played out scare-tactic and it's almost eye-rollingly cliché nowadays. Well, back in 89' there was a movie called Sweet Home, and this flick suffers from zero of these problems. It's unique in it's scares and chills, and that's what I really commend it for.

With a story revolving around a family/team heading to a abandoned mansion to investigate whether the house has a rare painting the story plays out like any haunted house flick. There may be something wrong, but no one really cares or believes. Well, after a little bit, they finally do begin to realize the mansion is cursed, but by the time they realize, the wheels of horror are in motion, and it's now a fight to stay alive.

Sweet Home, isn't a perfect flick, there are some drags in the film, and I personally think the movie could have been a lot scarier. They had perfect set-ups mixed with perfect camera-shots, but only used them for the creepy factor instead of the scare-factor. You're presented with a sense of dread, but rarely do they ever really try to scare you. Nevertheless, the film does offer chills and enough of them to satisfy the viewer.

But with a cool story, good acting, fantastic atmosphere/cinematography and great fx, the movie more than delivers enough for an entertaining and unique little haunted house flick. If you're into Japanese horror/haunted house flicks, give this flick a shot. It's worth it.