Synopsis
Noroi: The Curse follows journalist who starts to investigate cases involving a psychic girl, a haunted actress, and discovers a dangerous demon named Kagutaba.
My Thoughts
There aren’t many movies that use the found footage style in a way that feels fresh and effective, but Noroi: The Curse is not only an excellent found footage gem, it is a highly underrated movie full stop.
Noroi starts by introducing the story of director Masafumi Kobayashi, and after working on his latest documentary, his house burns down and his wife is found dead in the wreckage, and Kobayashi himself has disappeared.
We then see the footage from his final documentary, which investigates a series of mysterious deaths linked to a curse from a local village and we focus on 3 other characters.
Kana, a young girl with psychic abilities; Marika Matsumoto, an actress who experiences strange events at an old shrine; and Mr. Hori, a seemingly unstable man obsessed with ectoplasmic worms who wears tinfoil. As Kobayashi interviews them, he starts to notice connections between their stories.
When Kana goes missing after being visited by a man in tinfoil, Kobayashi returns to Mr. Hori, who leads him to more unsettling discoveries.
The movie is presented as a mockumentary and Noroi draws you in completely but it is a slow burner of a film, which everyone may not like. The film uses a mix of news clips and TV shows to keep the story moving forward, and while it is a slow burner, you are never bored.
Small clues are revealed which you might miss, and even if you do not, they might not make much sense but by the end of the movie, they will, and it is a film I recommend watching more than once.
Noroi is filmed with a digital video camera and this gives the movie a real gritty feel, and when something creepy happens on screen, the images get obscured, the sound goes bye bye and what seems like a normal scene suddenly dives into another territory.
While the film isn’t overly scary, it is creepy, and it is a film that will reward you if you have the patience for it.
Good Points
Engaging Mystery: The movie weaves an intriguing and complex story, and gradually reveals the connections between seemingly unrelated characters and events.
Atmospheric Tension: Noroi effectively builds a quite a creepy and unsettling atmosphere through its use of found footage.
The Characters: I loved the characters in this film, and they all bring something different and equally provide some brilliant moments.
Bad Points
Slow Pacing: The movie’s slow-burn approach may feel a bit too drawn-out for some, you really need to be patient with Noroi, and then it will reward you.
Lack of Scares: While the film has its moments, if you are expecting more intense or frequent scares, the film’s subtle approach to horror might feel a bit underwhelming.
Plot: The film’s narrative, with multiple characters and intertwined stories, might leave you a bit confused at times, which is why I recommended watching it more than once.
Is It Worth Watching?
Noroi: The Curse is worth watching if you enjoy slow-burn horror with a strong atmosphere and an intriguing, complex plot. The film excels in building tension and offers some weird but memorable characters and a good mystery.
But, if you prefer faster-paced horror with more frequent scares and more in your face, the film might not be for you. It requires patience and a taste for subtle, creeping horror rather than outright frights.
I loved it, though.
Where To Watch
Director and Cast
Director – Kōji Shiraishi
Main Cast – Jin Muraki, Marika Matsumoto, Satoru Jitsunashi, Rio Kanno, Miyako Hanai, Shuta Kambayashi
Found Footage Horror Movies 
Let Me Know Your Thoughts!