The 2004 J Horror film Cursed is, in fact, a supernatural “haunting” set in the Japanese equivalent of a 7-11. Directed and co-written by Yoshihiro Hoshino, Cursed is one of the creepier films on offer. It is almost an anthology. Certain customers have some really scary, and bad, things happen to them. Their fate is determined by the receipts they receive. (More on this later.)
The Cursed Story
A corporate rep goes to close a contract with a local convenience store. They will become a franchise within the large conglomerate. While finalizing the paperwork, and doing an inventory, the rep learns that the place is cursed.
The Cast
Kyôko Akiba is Ryôko Kagami.
Takaaki Iwao is Komori, the night-shift clerk.
Etsuyo Mitani is Store Owners wife.
Osamu Takahashi is Store Owner.
Susumu Terajima is Akira Tejima.
*Kudos to Terajima here. He is literally in a blink and you’ll miss it cameo. As usual he knocks his minimal role out of the flipping park. I’m a fan of his work for a reason.*
Let’s Talk ‘CHÔ’ KOWAI HANASHI A: YAMI NO KARASU (Cursed)
Cursed is a cracking film. My daughter and I found it in good old CEX. *This company is an absolute gold mine for second hand films. I finally got to watch Firefly because of this gem of a shop. If memory serves me correctly, we got this one because Terajima is in the credit list. That actor has seemingly been in every Beat Takeshi film ever. *
This is one oddly compelling film to watch. Director/Co-Writer Yoshihiro Hoshino has apparently only made two films. This one in 2004 and Interview with Kazuhiko Hasegawa. Looking on IMDb, there is no hint of why he only made two features. This one, with its creepily intrusive storyline, almost an anthology, works so well. It is odd that he has not worked since.
It is clearly low budget. A straight to video/DVD production. The VFX are spotty but the practical FX work a treat. It has also been made digitally, no celluloid here friend. Asian cinema were the forefathers of leaving the more expensive “film” format behind. It does not really hurt the film.
Cursed opens with a “crib” from the 2000 film Final Destination. A girl backs away from the “supernaturally inundated 7-11. She is smashed into bloody goo right in front of her friend, by a speeding bus. The friend even gets some of her now late mate on her.
The plot device of having customers getting really bad things happening to them because of their sales receipt total works. *I was told that not only 666 but 999 are incredibly unlucky numbers in Japan.* Each poor sod who gets these totals meet a very nasty end. Although some, like the chap who retrieves and returns the child’s football is never seen again. We have to image his fate.
Turn Them Lights On
Cursed works on an almost subliminal level. There is a creep factor. However, the scares are not “tossing your popcorn in the air” scary. They do work though. The faceless entity in the parka is downright eerie. The high pitched squealing at the train tracks predates the terrifying screeching of the murderous toon in 2017. It is not as loud but it is darn scary. The bit where the victim has to race toward her soon to be assailant is pretty white knuckle stuff.
Like The Grudge verse, the Japanese one not the Hollywood remakes, we have no idea why this is happening. We never learn what turned the shop keepers into weird “almost zombies.” Just as we never find out why these apparent demons or ghosts are killing the poor folks.
You will feel the urge to keep all the lights on while you’re watching it. The viewer may even feel the need to leave them on. *After watching this one, you will feel uncomfortable opening the fridge door alone.*
The Verdict
Cursed is a solid 3.5 stars. It loses half a star for that dodgy VFX. It is available to watch via YouTube. Be warned, it is not for the overly imaginative. It is also subtitled. Regardless of having to read, its worth watching. You should still be able to purchase this on via Amazon.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.