User reviews

If you go in expecting a slow burn, something that leans more atmospheric than narrative, I think you'll have a good time. Or, like a disturbing time. Lots of darkness, lots of unsettling soundtrack, and plenty of weird, unsettling affect from the lead - it certainly all combined to give me the heebie-jeebies. For what they were going for, I don't think a standard, dialogue-heavy narrative would have suited the movie - themes of isolation and alienation even when surrounded by people in a huge city. I was in the mood for phantasmagoria tonight, and this fit the bill.

And while I enjoyed it, I hope my review is enough to tell you, dear reader, whether this is a movie you yourself would enjoy. It's not a slasher film, there are no jump scares, and while gross at times, it's more unsettling than anything. And not even really that gory. Just a slowly-ratcheting feeling of unease.

Also, shoutout to Kwaidan, Yuki the Snow Maiden would have loved the spider story in this movie.

Creepy imagery fills the screen, as a story within a story unfolds. Set in Japan, with Swedish characters, the plot is mesmerizing, disorienting, dark and fascinating. Something about translating a children's story, but that's just the starting point for an image-driven trip down the rabbit hole. This is an ambiguous character study open to interpretation. I enjoyed the strangeness of it all. It's unconventional and unique, choosing not to explain every action. This is a movie that does not follow a formula; it clearly has its own rhythm and style. The unsettling sound design adds to the mood, while the cool animation supports the sub-textual narrative. If you like independent thrillers, and are open to connecting the dots, check out EFFIGY.

Effigy caught my attention for its atmosphere. While I didn't fully absorb the story on my first viewing, its aesthetic and tone stood out. Cairns sets the story in Tokyo but doesn't allow the locale to overshadow the narrative. Themes of greed, detachment, and exploitation weave through the uncanny atmosphere. The language choices, performances, and nighttime settings all heighten the sense of disconnection, with palpable schisms between even physically close characters. We are invited to decipher not only what is said but also what is shown and what is meant. This ambiguity adds a layer of tension and complexity to the film. I prefer to digest films slowly rather than being overwhelmed by an overt message-or lack thereof-and Effigy definitely gave me plenty to ruminate on.

One of the most striking elements was the audio. The layers and textures, combined with droning soundscapes, conveyed an atemporal sense-as if time itself was being blurred. This auditory choice deepened the film's atmosphere, making it easy to lose track of time. That said, the day/night cycles felt significant. They highlighted the contrast between the waking world and the quiet, unsettling stillness of night, contributing to the film's themes of isolation and disconnection.

While Effigy includes subtle nods to 90s J-horror, it deftly avoids the overused tropes of that genre. Its more reflective, unsettling tone and imagery reminded me of films like Under the Skin and Audition, as well as Yoko Ogawa's book The Diving Pool and East of the Sun, West of the Moon. The film's budget is noticeable at times, but it manages to create an intriguing atmosphere, with motifs and motivations that invite further contemplation.

Effigy is a complex, layered film about a descent into madness involving a cursed object. I noticed echoes of early horror films (Renfield from Dracula was one I thought about) but with modern well-crafted visuals. Lighting, shadows, angles and effects are all strong points. My interest was drawn in with the elements of Japanese, English(American) and Swedish, but with a setting of modern Tokyo. I enjoyed my second viewing from noticing details of foreshadowing, and after thinking about the film for a week or so. I think it's a good accompaniment/lead-in to the Halloween season (viewed Sep-Oct 2024).

If you are looking for a slow burn spooky film set in Tokyo for pre-Halloween chills then this is for you! Amazingly well written, directed and generally crafted by John Cairns, Effigy explores alienation and fantasy fulfilment as a modern fairytale for adults. Set in Tokyo an incredibly attractive young translator (Camilla Ståhl) confronts insanity in the writings of her employer's recently deceased son only to slowly unravel herself. This film is great for dark and rainy autumn evenings while you are the mood for something just for yourself or a certain someone of a similar mindset.

Be wary, the film becomes strong stylistic turn for art house cinema about midway through and the ending maybe disturbing for some! If you are looking for a popcorn thriller, give this one a miss. But if you want to see someone descend into murderous madness with little dialogue, a strong cinematic score and unsettling visuals, then you might enjoy this.

I'm not sure who is adding all the negative star ratings and if they have actually seen the movie and genuinely didn't like it or are just trolling, but as with most of the other people who actually wrote reviews, I would definitely recommend watching this film if you like movies that are dark, highly-atmospheric, and artistic slow-burn suspense (almost a sort of mythic-Japanese-metropolitan-noir type feeling. Subtle, dark-fantasy cyberpunk, maybe).

I don't usually watch horror movies, but I found this movie highly enjoyable because it presented an atmospheric, artistic and motif-heavy exploration of the horrors of living in a soulless metropolis full of lost people, without resorting to jump scares and chases scenes. If you want "I'm scared to turn out the lights after watching this" type J-Horror, this ain't it. If you want a thoughtful meditation on the kind of casual cruelty and isolation that can characterize modern life in a mega-city, seen through a rich and immersive horror-type-lens that elevates the mundane and mixes it with the mythic, this is the movie for you.

Effigy is, on the surface, a simple story about a woman's gradual mental/moral spiraling. Much of the runtime is spent on atmospheric thematic development rather than detailed or dramatic plot points. The slow-burn is kept from being boring, however, both through the immersive visuals and sound, and, even more so, through the layering of symbols, analogies, motifs, and myths on top of the base storyline.

Imagine a dark version of "Drive My Car," but instead of 3-hours of pretentious monotone reading of Chekhov lines that are hard to understand out of context, it layers in an easily accessible Hans Christian Andersen-type haunting fairy-tale on top of the main story. This, combined with repeating visual motifs, ties things together and creates a feeling of inevitability-the protagonists mental and moral decay feels tied to the physical and social decay of the world around her. I would compare it a little bit to AMC's "The Killing," or "Bird Box Barcelona," - a focus on the decaying fringes of a cyberpunk-metropolis, mixed with a heavy dose of poetic and mythic imagery and symbols.

This is a movie about, to some extent, the struggle for meaning amidst an uncaring world, and this struggle operates on multiple levels, from mythic fairy tale to gritty undercity drama. The greatest impact of this movie is in its seamless mixing of all of these levels together.

For a relatively low-budget independent film, the quality is extremely high, the writing and acting is enjoyable and believable, the visuals are somehow both immersive and claustrophobic, the sound and music rival any big-budget Hollywood movie in terms of quality, and the concept is unique, creative, and memorable.

There is not a huge amount of plot, the pace is a little slow at times, and the budget constraints shows in some of the CGI sequences, but the expertly crafted use of motifs and layered stories, combined with the immersive atmosphere make it an enjoyable and memorable film if you are up for the sort of immersive suspense that is horrific, but not shocking, artistic, but not pretentious, and low-budget, but not low-quality.

This blew me away. So intense, reminiscent of early Nicolas Winding Refn. If you like both David Lynch and Japanese horror films, this is definitely for you. It has all the quirky intensity of something like Eraserhead but then achieves said vibe within the context of a plot akin to that of Ring or Audition. Plus the cinematography, effects, and sound design are all top notch, very impressive for a film of this budget. It has this wonderful, looming sense of dread that will never allow me to look at Japanese streets the same way. Oh, and the main character is awesome - possessed of the kind of terrifying Aryan beauty mixed with erotic sadism that reminds us of just why we fear Nazis.

This movie was very thought provoking! I love the exploration of good vs evil: positive and negative characteristics that live in all of us with different shades! Compelling storyline that makes you want to keep watching, Questions that play in your head long after the movie is over, and discussions with people about what it all meant, were what makes the movie memorable. Highly recommend it if you enjoy alternative narratives to regular Hollywood movies. The acting was excellent. The mysteriousness of the movie was enhanced by not being able to read the emotions of the characters which felt very much intentional.

"Effigy" is an great cinematic experience that dove deep into the blurred boundaries between reality, delusion, and the darkest recesses of human desire. This movie was near perfect i felt in blending psychological tension and atmospheric storytelling that left me unable to lose focus from start to finish.

The contrast and interplay between the two characters involved with Catherine are brilliantly portraited for an Indi movie which creates a surreal and unsettling atmosphere that kept me on the edge.

What I felt sets this film in its own light is its ability to seamlessly weave together themes of Catherine's deteriorating mental state that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. The inclusion of grotesque trophies and symbolic elements from her assignments adds a profound layer of depth to the narrative, making every scene rich with meaning.

If you're in the mood for a dark movie that avoids all the usual horror tropes, a movie that gets under your skin and squirms, even a movie that makes you ask a lot of uncomfortable questions, then Effigy is just what you might be looking for.

First of all it's gorgeously shot which I really appreciate. As a long time Japan resident, I got extra chills with all the near deserted city shots.

Also, I felt the folktale that the protagonist makes up is the heart-thread that holds together the lives and stories of all the characters in the movie, making it a beautiful and beautifully disturbing flick.

This film is a daring, surreal experience that doesn't fit traditional narrative expectations. The stark contrast between the quiet, isolated existence of a Swedish woman in Tokyo and the chaotic unraveling of the people around her is a study in alienation and the darkness that lurks within human nature.

Visually striking and emotionally unsettling, the movie juxtaposes modern city life with disturbing folklore-inspired elements. The Swedish protagonist is both elusive and compelling, a character who floats through life with detachment, but whose actions reveal a complex moral decay that leaves you questioning her every move.

The film's slow pacing mirrors the main character's deliberate manipulation of those around her. Every scene feels like a puzzle piece in an abstract painting - not immediately comprehensible, but inviting you to linger and reflect. The film's willingness to delve into themes of madness, manipulation, and guilt sets it apart from conventional storytelling, evoking comparisons to the works of art-house legends like David Lynch.

While not for the faint of heart or for everyone's tastes, the movie shines in its portrayal of Tokyo as a character in its own right, a city of contrasts: gleaming, modern skyscrapers tower above those forgotten by society, just as the protagonist hovers between moral indifference and destructive malice. It's a film that pushes boundaries and forces viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about the human condition.

This is not a Hollywood type movie. If you are looking for a traditional blockbuster, skip this movie. If you are in the mood for something different, more cerebral and artsy, then please give this movie a try. I tend to rate these experimental type movies high based on the merit that are trying to offer something different and elevate the medium while being forced to work with a small budget. Effigy doesn't fail in this task, and it delivered scenes that were hard to watch but strangely compelling.

It's mix of surreal characters punctuating their lives with violence and malice in moody surroundings is great. The sound and visuals are very satisfying, but I especially enjoyed unpacking the symbolism. I'm terrible at it but find it fun nonetheless.

This film lives on the power of its unnerving vibe. Not a jump scare movie. This is a patient horror train, taking you on a volatile journey towards true alienation. So I would say this one requires the right mood to fully appreciate. It is a meticulously crafted micro-budget film. It is without compromise: a Lynchian story, deep diving into a troubled translator's unravelling psyche in a surreal Tokyo as her cruelty turns outwards.. This film will challenge viewers to engage on its terms. There's layers to explore here and ambiguous elements to process. It's one of those films where your mind can fill in the shadow corners in a completely different way with subsequent viewing- this could be interpreted as either a strength or a weakness depending upon who you are- or how you feel. The pace of it is slow and hypnotic.. This allows it to inject its anxious energy in a subliminal way. Staying with it however, revealed a highly original and sadistic story. The ending hits with confident panache. A dark puzzle box of a film that is undoubtedly niche and delivers on the nightmares.

In the modern world, nothing is perhaps as important as translation. Good translators will tell you that there's a certain point where they just have to make it up in order for everything to fall together. That's what the protagonist in this film does. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of workaday Tokyo, Cairns's "Effigy" expertly captures the emotions of alienation of living in the modern built environment and pairs this against the narratives of fairy tales. Very few films these days have so much: fairy tales; anguish of translation; beauty and tragedy of the metropolis. Coda, verging on a spoiler: naturally we all remember from school that an effigy is "a rough model of a person, made in order to be damaged or destroyed in a protest in anger." You'll remember this vaguely at the beginning and then focus strongly on it as the credits roll. Four out of five stars because translation is never perfect.

His is an independent slow-burn suspense-horror film that explores the unsettling and eerie aspects of human nature when people are kept in isolated bubbles of their own devising. It's definitely a film that goes off the beaten path in terms of plot, character development, etc. Definitely don't expect something normal going into this. The atmosphere it creates is hard to put into words, but mainly there is a mix of dread and anticipation that builds up gradually, especially from the soundtrack.

I thought of the spider metaphor that's mentioned in the film several times and it seems apt since the film is slowly weaving a tighter and tighter web that left the main character and me in a tight corner in the end. No idea of this was the intention of the director. There is a lot that really comes from it being a gritty little indie film and it;s not clear what are intentional and unintentional themes in the film. It's definitely got a haunting and puzzling spirit to it though. Really worth watching for the main actress and some of the supporting cast as well as the outstanding soundtrack.

After watching the director's previous movie, Schoolgirl Apocalypse, I wasn't sure what to expect from this film, Effigy. I was a bit confused and didn't know what to make of it but it left a weird impression on me in a good way. It is much like one of those movies that don't have clear answers and you can make multiple interpretations of it.

There are dozens of wonderful camera shots, the visuals are compelling and the story is quite interesting. It made me want to see how everything unravels at the very end. It's kind of a David Lynch movie and if you like him then you might want to give this a watch.

While struggling to translate the writings of a crazy person, beautiful Catherine starts succumbing to the madness in the words.

I really enjoyed watching this moody, ominous story. The characters were very unique and interesting like what you might find in a David Lynch film.

The vibe of the film is supported and intensified by the foreboding music score. It really draws you in.

Although some narrative threads can be hard to grasp at times, Similar to Mulholland drive, it is very intriguing and keeps you guessing what will happen next.

This film is for any movie lover who wants to take a trip through moody atmospheric Japanese locations and go down a deranged psychological rabbit hole.

Effigy blends art-house and horror elements well and has a plot that effectively explains things that would normally be hindrances in other independent films and uses them to its full narrative advantage. The film prioritizes atmosphere over sheer shock value, building an eerie, unsettling ambiance that leads to its conclusion. It's a unique approach that distinguishes it from mainstream horror flicks.

The protagonists' psychological state and the immersive settings contribute significantly to this sense of unease, Effigy isn't just about scaring you with immediate threats; it's about drawing you into a world where the very fabric of reality feels uncertain and off-kilter.

John Cairn's new film Effigy evokes an unnerving yet reminiscing feeling of surrealistic and experimental films like the works of David Lynch and Under the Skin.

The film follows a foreign translator Catherine, played by Camille Stahl, as she lives in the isolated city of metropolitan Tokyo. Her life takes a dark turn when she encounters an enigmatic client who demands a translation. From that moment, the line between reality and imagination begins to blur, revealing Catherine's inner depravity.

Effigy is undeniably niche, offering no clear answers as the plot unfolds, leaving the viewer with more questions than resolutions. If Schoolgirl was able to avoid cliches within a genre that could easily lean towards creative limitations, then this highly surrealistic film was able to highly compliment what an experimental horror film can do. It challenges its audience to interpret its meaning, reflecting the director's intent to push the boundaries of contemporary storytelling.

The cinematography is nothing short of stunning, portraying the city as an isolated, ominous presence. It was as if the city itself was coming alive with the dark contrast across the buildings, where the muted colors and ominous lights beamed in the streets. The sound design enhances this sense of lurking horror, hiding just beyond the shadows. It almost felt like I was back in Silent Hill, a franchise that I adore.

The editing is equally striking, particularly during the scenes where Catherine translates. The film cuts between her frustrated work and her drawing, with the visuals coming to life as she narrates, a technique that echoes Cairn's earlier film, Schoolgirl Apocalypse.

For an indie film there were some very strong performances. Camille Stahl gives a very compelling and demanding performance, shifting from innocence to psychosis with subtle yet terrifying precision just by the way she looks and moves alone. Shinsuke Kao as Doggy was great too, having a profound ability by simply disappearing into his character.

Although I didn't fully grasp the film's message after my first viewing-especially as it reached its ambiguous conclusion-that's not the point of a surreal film. It's about the visual and hypnotic experience. And yet, much like watching a David Lynch film or playing Silent Hill, there's a persistent sense that a deeper meaning lies behind the curtain-one with layers of interpretation waiting to be uncovered.

Another reason for a re watch!

Effigy is technically sound and sets an uneasy tone that never dissipates, making you feel like something bad is always coming. The duality of the character Catherine is at the core here. A pretty young Nordic woman trying to make it in Tokyo with her brightly colored dresses and nice handbags, yet this same woman also exhibits sociopathic tendencies and perversions. The film doesn't hold your hand through the narrative and skips over details, especially around character relationships. So, yes, it's unconventional storytelling but you ultimately don't need more. Frankly, I wouldn't even classify this as horror. Don't go in expecting a standard horror film and adjust your expectations accordingly.

Effigy by John Cairns is worth a watch if you enjoy slow paced moody films that lean towards experimental. Excellent sound design and intriguing visual style that combines high-fi and low-fi camera techniques to enhance the mysterious nature of the film's narrative. Protagonist Camilla Ståhl is compelling to watch. Her interactions with the excellent Shinsuke Kato are appropriately disturbing. Kato is the outstanding presence in the film and hits the perfect note of pathos with his performance. My main issue with the film is that there were times when it was very unclear what the protagonist was experiencing emotionally. Many of the scenes were left pretty open to interpretation, which is okay in some cases, not so much in others. All in all, I think the film is worthwhile if taken as an alternative to conventions of mainstream narrative cinema.

After reading the reviews submitted so far by a panoply of viewers who expressed both their delight and disdain with the extensive premises of the film as presented.

I truly enjoyed watching this film. In my first viewing I was intrigued by the almost hidden details of the shots and the environs in which the scenes take place. Since then, I have viewed it a half-dozen more times exploring details which I had missed before.

Yes, Bergmanesque f'sure!

The actors at times would seem to meld to mere props and become not just people. They represented all the stupid questions that you don't dare ask.

The camerawork evoked a bystander eyeballing the whole absurdity of human existence in a make-believe world. That is, the shots pulled you into trying to figure out what is going on: it was an active process...not casual.

The female lead's wardrobe and handbags were well chosen and represented the notion that if I look right I must be...right; y'know?.

The soundtrack, both the music and the post-production audio, set the pulse for what was going on... and what just might happen...hmmm.

While watching it for the third time, I imagined being able to watch it at a drive-in theater in the early days of Roger Corman and his crew.

Effigy probes deeply into one's personal conviction and their resolution of the unimaginable.

All in all, it expresses the concept that a heart of complaint is never full.

Full Disclosure: I did purchase the download.

The movie was very atmospheric and unsettling in a claustrophobic way with intercuts of scenes which reminded me of the work of David Lynch. At first these scenes seem tangential to the narrative, but in the end everything made sense. The unsettling tone was beautifully manifested by Catherine Stahl, who demonstrated an outward beauty which masked an inward perversion and selfishness that culminated in her descent into her madness and isolation. The movie doesn't have a conventional structure, but it accomplishes it's goal of creating tension and dread - perfect for an indie arthouse horror movie.

A hypnotic descent into urban isolation that defies conventional storytelling expectations. Set in Tokyo, the film creates an unsettling alternate reality that slowly seeps into your consciousness, much like the works of Lynch or Noé, though it carves its own distinct path.

At its core, the film follows Catherine's journey through a darkly reimagined Tokyo (my favorite kind of Tokyo), but it's the deliberate pacing and build of tension that sets it apart. Cairns takes the bold creative risk of allowing scenes to breathe, particularly in the mesmerizing city sequences. These extended walks through Tokyo's streets aren't mere filler; they're carefully orchestrated movements that simultaneously build dread and illuminate the character's psychological landscape.

While the film's experimental nature might draw comparisons to surrealist psychological thrillers like 'Horse Girl' or the hallucinatory 'Enter the Void,' Effigy stands as its own unique vision. It's a film that doesn't just ask for your attention - it demands your surrender to its carefully constructed atmosphere of unease.

What makes Effigy particularly effective is its ability to burrow under your skin, creating an immersive experience that lingers long after viewing. The director's approach to exploring isolation through the lens of Tokyo's urban landscape proves both disorientating and captivating, resulting in a film that's as thought-provoking as it is unsettling.

A good movie for people who like this type of unconventional, experimental, atypical horror. The atmosphere is dark from the beginning, but the acction is slow at the start, then the events are starting to accelerate. The main character is undergoing a change during the movie from bad to worse. Very interesting cinematography, with specific ways of showing realism vs fantasy (for instance, using specific pixellation). The main character is played by a talented actress portraying very well this sort of psychological twisted figure.

It's an atmospheric and thought provoking movie that will suit a specific audience.