darryl-shaw

Bakemono is a independent horror film that punches far above it's modest budget. It's a sincere love letter to 80s horror. It has an unflinchingly bleak tone, sleek production values, and surgical direction. The story follows a sizable cast of unfortunate souls who arrive at an ill-fated airbnb in Tokyo. It's nightmarish hidden occupant proceeds to attack these unsuspecting visitors on every level. What follows is a series of violent and horrific vignettes that will delight monster fans. While the film's body count is impressive, what stole the show for me is its sublime atmosphere. Blood glistens in shifting shadows; flesh squelches and stirs; ensuring that the creature will be frighteningly subjective to each viewer.

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.