If you like films such as ‘Noroi’ and ‘Lake Mungo’, you might enjoy Marui Video, but it drops the ball hard with the ending.
Synopsis
A producer and his team investigate the cursed video of a brutal murder, with predictably dire consequences.
My Thoughts on Marui Video
This film had been on my watch list for a little while, as I have read people compare it to Noroi, one of my favorite found footage films, and I finally bit the bullet and rented it.
When I started watching it, I certainly got Noroi vibes, with those sneaky background scares that reward you for actually paying attention, and I’m sitting there thinking, “Okay, I’m in.”
That fake-doc style? Loved it. Creepy interviews, spooky old footage, people poking around where they shouldn’t be, the film certainly had all the elements I enjoy and want from this kind of film, and it has that atmospheric build up rather than just throwing jump scares at you, and it does it pretty well.
The final act though really lets this film down a lot, which is a shame, as it’s predictable as hell and moves away from the mockumentary style into shaky cam, and while many probably won’t mind that, and I certainly don’t mind shaky cam, but this shift bothered me within the context of the film.
If you’re going to go full mockumentary, go all the way, and don’t start classy and end up looking like someone filmed the finale while having a seizure in a dark closet.
The smart build up that was at play in the film is just ditched, and the film just decides to throw in every lazy found footage trick they could find in the bargain bin.
After all the slow burn build up, you are always hoping for a good pay off, but Marui Video really does not deliver in that aspect.
But, I despite the ending, I still enjoyed the film, as it’s got some good tension, creepy vibes, and the first two acts actually feel like someone gave a damn, but it could’ve been so much better if it didn’t sell its soul to every lazy horror cliché in the final stretch.
Much like Noroi, the pacing is pretty slow in this one, even with a fairly short run time, and I found myself confused at times, but it does have that intrigue and interest, but the slow pacing will definitely bother some people, as will the ending.
It’s a decent ride though for the most part for found footage junkies, but it’s not going to win over anyone who wasn’t already on board, and you will want to pay attention as it has a lot of blink and your miss it moments.
It ain’t no Noroi, and while I wouldn’t say it is scary, it has creepy vibes, but is more of a mystery film, more in line with Lake Mungo.
Marui Video Trailer
Marui Video on IMDB
Good Points
Atmospheric Build-Up – The film nails that slow, creeping dread perfectly, and is a film for those who prefer psychological tension over jump scares.
Convincing Mockumentary Style – The editing and interview-style structure make it feel like real investigative footage, giving it an immersive, grounded feel. Well, until the ending.
Minimalist Horror Approach – The scare attempts are more implied than in-your-face, letting your imagination do most of the damage, which frankly, is way more effective.
Bad Points
Weak Final Act – After all that careful buildup, the third act devolves into noisy, shaky nonsense, and this undermines the tension it worked so hard to create, and the ending is incredibly predictable.
Inconsistent Tone – The switch from documentary style to chaotic handheld cam in the final scenes felt jarring and out of sync with the rest of the film.
Repetitive Footage – The cursed tape is teased throughout the movie, but by the time you see it in full, it’s already lost most of its shock value.
Is It Worth Watching?
Marui Video is definitely worth a watch for found footage genre fans who enjoy the slow-burn, mockumentary-style horror like Noroi or Lake Mungo.
It’s got a creepy atmosphere, a cursed tape plot (which never really gets old), and it plays the “is this real?” card pretty well for most of the runtime.
But, and it’s a decent-sized “but”, the ending drops the ball. Hard.
If you’re expecting a big payoff or something fresh and mind-blowing, you’ll probably walk away disappointed. The third act goes a bit off the rails, which undercuts all the slow, clever build-up.
Where To Watch
Director and Cast
Director – Yoon Joon-Hyeong
Main Cast – Seo Hyun-woo, Jo Min-Kyoung, Seo Sung-gwang, Ahn Min-Yeong, Kim Seungbi, Ahn Hyun-bin, Hwang Ki-seok
Found Footage Horror Movies 
Let Me Know Your Thoughts!