Shiraishi Kouji is a director of dozens of horror movies, both normal ones like Hell Girl, but also "found footage" films with handheld camera. His most famous such film is probably Noroi. This newer movie is also in the second category.
This time, the director himself appears on screen to present several short films from different locations, but with a red thread connecting them. These are rather amateurish films, often taken with handheld camera, and with only few cuts. Somehow, the result becomes a very scary and unique horror movie. There are several structural reasons for that:
1. In a long movie you can usually take for granted that the main character will be alive at least until near the end. When we get short films like this, there is no guarantee that the characters will not die and be replaced in the next video, so there is an extra sense of danger.
2. Many horror movies that are based on urban legends have well-defined rules for when and how characters will be killed. In contrast, this movie has no such rules.
3. Instead, it is very chaotic in that shocking things can happen at any time. Even such anomalies as unreliable narrators or breaking the fourth wall might happen. So there is a constant feeling of threat and insecurity at all times.
4. Not only are there spooky things, but the interaction between the characters is even more chaotic and uncomfortable to the degree that I almost could not stand the tension.
It is unclear if the actors are good or not. They seem amateurish and goofy sometimes, but are on the other hand able to create a special tension between them. Especially with so few cuts. Also, some of them are able to express certain emotions that I have not really seen before. The question is if this is skill or a coincidence. In any case, it is something unique that can probably never be replicated or remade.
Adding to this, the characters and relations are unusually complex and interesting psychologically. They were handled with respect, and not as vehicles for the plot.
Shiraishi Kouji himself makes a strong impression. Him talking directly to the audience creates a special connection to the material he is showing.
It is worth mentioning that he has a mythos of his own that his movies are based upon, and also a particular style of special effects, so that you can recognize them on sight. These special effects can look very scary sometimes, but they can on the other hand look cheap and goofy other times. In this movie they are used sparingly, which is good. I think they could even be used a little bit less, to reduce the risk of breaking the tension.
It is one of the scariest and most uncomfortable horror movies I have seen. It is also one of the most interesting character dramas. Of course, there is no guarantee that other people will find it scary. I think at least people who like found-footage horror movies can give it a try.
