I became interested in Shiraishi's work after watching the great Noroi: The Curse (2005). This film follows the same kind of narrative, which is based on a mystery. The difference is here we look at it from the mockumentary angle and not the found-footage type of story.
The acting is great, and it also includes a little cameo from director Kiyoshi Kurosawa - famous for Pulse (2001) and Cure (1997).The mystery is quite interesting and spooky and it keeps you on the edge of your seat up until halfway through the film.
At this point the mystery is abandoned and it becomes a different kind of story. It's still pretty good, but it feels like they're cheating, since they've been building up something and then simply abandon it for the sake of the characters.
Also, the special effects are quite terrible. Noroi had some great SFX, but this movie (made 4 years later) doesn't quite deliver. I could still swallow it if hadn't been for the ending. It's pretty crappy.
The SFX directly affect the story, because it doesn't make it "believable" enough, and the events that happen throughout the film demand more and more of that belief. I would even say it goes a little too far for me.
Still, the film delivers a good mystery but it eventually demands you to let go of it and just enjoy the ride.
The acting is great, and it also includes a little cameo from director Kiyoshi Kurosawa - famous for Pulse (2001) and Cure (1997).The mystery is quite interesting and spooky and it keeps you on the edge of your seat up until halfway through the film.
At this point the mystery is abandoned and it becomes a different kind of story. It's still pretty good, but it feels like they're cheating, since they've been building up something and then simply abandon it for the sake of the characters.
Also, the special effects are quite terrible. Noroi had some great SFX, but this movie (made 4 years later) doesn't quite deliver. I could still swallow it if hadn't been for the ending. It's pretty crappy.
The SFX directly affect the story, because it doesn't make it "believable" enough, and the events that happen throughout the film demand more and more of that belief. I would even say it goes a little too far for me.
Still, the film delivers a good mystery but it eventually demands you to let go of it and just enjoy the ride.