This is Part One of our three-part world wide horror series. What other horror films from around the world should I cover? Leave a comment and let me know!
I really like Under The Shadow, it's a Persian horror film or A Tale of Two Sisters and Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum from Korea. That last one I just watched last week and enjoyed.
I remember hunting for bits and pieces of this movie throughout UA-cam back in the days. Since the movie was broken into short 10 or so minute bites it really added to the feel that this was a real documentary. The time you spent searching for each clip really added to the experience.
I love how tell don't show actually helps to suspend our disbelief because it's now more related to documentaries and reality. It's a great example of how breaking the "rules" can actually serve you well in art.
Yep. I actually hate this weird bias that people have developed about "showing" rather than "telling". Who came up with this strange rule? There are no rules in storytelling, and you limit yourself by thinking there are.
@@gauthamprak It's not technically a rule, more of a guideline that was created because it's been proven to work. So I don't exactly agree with you because those "rules" do work but like any other rule, a master can bend or break them
@@gauthamprak I know it's your thoughts from few months ago which mean you could be changed already but you were confused before, however movie is medium of show{audiovisual & storytelling} which is *tell* could be considered as *show* in certain situations, Joker in TDK *tell* someone about something but his things changed on each person, it's *show* his madness by *tell,* it should be quite simple to understand that *tell* on the rule is literally *tell* without any contexts beside informations of *tell* itself.
I like how the film makes you feel like you're "investigating" with Kobayashi as a partner. I was also trying to put pieces of puzzles together with Kobayashi. All the time he "chat" with me (cameraman) as if I was with him in the story. That adds to the creepiness, making me feel like my personal space as an audience got invaded.
I agree with you here. The cameraman functions as a stand-in for the viewer, which makes it all the more brilliant when the climax at the lake has him finally participate in the action. That move was not accidental, it was done with great purpose. Every detail in this movie is calculated so carefully, for maximum effect.
I like how most of the movie (besides the unreleased episode) was filmed in daylight but still manages to heavily unnerve you. I still get more freaked out by Kobayashi walking around the cursed village in bright sunny daytime than any dark creepy monster. Oh and the baby noises! The sound design in the film is really great.
It's astonishing and daring just how bright this film is. It really adds to the viewer's sense that nowhere is safe, and that horror happens all the time, unseen but just waiting to be discovered.
"hallway of my school at night" that is such a PERFECT way of describing that feeling. i literally have dreams about that exact situation with the same kind of feeling this movie has
I remembered when in middle school i forgot my lunch box in classroom desk, and i have to get it back, if not i will not have lunch for the next day (how my parent teach me about responsibility lol), so my father only takes me into the front gate of the school and the school taker only opening the gate, and tell me just be fast, i cant describe how uneasy the feeling walking thru the school hallways passing other class, climbing the stairs until i reach my class, the environment is dark, cold and empty but it feel busy, my class is on the 4th floor, and after get my lunch box and get back with my father, i cant describe how relieve i feel.
@@magari5036 Wow, him seeing "hallway of my school at night" disturbed me too but in a completely different way than yours. For me, what came immediately to mind wasn't what's around the corner or behind me, though those two things are just as horrifying as well. But as soon as he said that, I had an image of me walking down a hall. It's too dark to see much, other than what's provided from a sliver of light behind me (maybe the moonlight is slightly peeking through a window). But I can't see far ahead. So I'm walking ahead, and I'm dreading what I might see in front of me the closer I get. 😱😱😱
Noroi was one of the few films that managed to creep me out in my late teens when I saw it. Japanese horror has such a good grasp on getting that creepy rather than scary feeling you mentioned. Like Silent Hill 2 and what we almost got with PT, they have such a good understanding of keeping you constantly jittery instead of throwing scenes with jump scares at you. I'm glad you broke down the reasons for this so well. As usual I am always amazed to learn the reasons movies influence our minds as well as they do. Im always just like "it made me feel like x" rather than "this effect was used to make me feel x" lol. I am forever learning from your wisdom.
exactly - they dont throw jumpscares at you, they throw IDEAS at you, and go "think about the repurcussions of that by yourself" - which is WAY scarier
Props for the mention of PT... I agree with it... it's the sense of dread, "what's behind the corner" psychological fear that eats at you more so than jump scares (though PT jump scare got me still)...
The thing I love about the movie is that it doesn't style itself as a regular documentary but as a schlocky pulp documentary, like something you would find on the history channel such as "ghost hunters." They always play up little things, using sound and editing to make things seem more spooky than they really are. Since these types of programs have such bad creditability and always seem to "just miss" whatever supernatural thing they are hunting for it gears you to not actually expect anything to happen (unlike a traditional horror movie) which makes you more sensitive when stuff does happen. Also I just like the idea that you get the impression that Kobayashi spent years hunting down "supernatural mysteries" and using editing and production to make them seem more real and dramatic. Who knows if he even believes in the rumors and legends he is making programs about. But, then he starts to realize that this is the real deal and that he is in over his head, like a fisherman who caught a whale or a dog that finally caught up to a car.
Good observation. This movie appeals to me in a lot of different ways, my favorite among them is its stylization as a real, trashy, variety special. The on-screen text, use of actual variety talent (Ungirls, Matsumoto Marika, etc.), the use of narration and newsmagazine music stings all come together to create a beat-for-beat reproduction of Japanese variety trash TV you'd see in the mid-2000s.
Okaruto, or "Occult", was good UNTIL that ridiculously bad ending. Everyone fully believes the director just spent over an hour trolling people with that movie.
Noroi is by far one of my favourite movies in the horror genre and manages to creep me out everytime I watch thanks to the realistic feeling. The documentary style really sucks you in this movie. I also enjoyed the other movies of Koji Shiraishi (Cult, Shirome etc.) but none of them got me like Noroi, I would say Occult and Shirome are my second favourites. It's this eerie, subtle feeling and pacing I really enjoy in japanese horror movies over easy jumpscares and blatant visual kills or appearings of "the killer". I think insidious is a great example for it. The movie really got me until you saw that demon/devil thing in his full presence, at this moment all these unsettling feels and chills were gone instantly. It's more scary if you don't really know everything, so your mind can go on a creepy journey XD If anyone is reading this, do you know more such movies or can even recommend any good books in this eerie style? :)
I can't think of many other films that do what Noroi does nearly as well as Noroi does it. The only ones that come to mind are 'In the Mouth of Madness' (it does world building and atmosphere like Noroi does, but much more blatantly), 'Profondo Rosso', 'The Exorcist III (yes, technically it's a sequel, but it stands on its own and is much more subtle than the first Exorcist and just as effective and affecting), as well as some of Hitchcock's films (though they don't have the same supernatural element) like 'Rear Window' or 'The 39 Steps'. As for books, I would recommend 'Hell House' by Richard Matheson, 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski, 'The Wasp Factory' by Iain Banks, 'Coldheart Canyon' by Clive Barker, and maybe some of Lovecraft's works such as 'The Dreams in the Witch House', 'The Shadow Out of Time', 'The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath', 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward', 'The Whisperer in Darkness', and 'At the Mountains of Madness'. Also, the collection of short stories titled 'The King in Yellow', by Robert W. Chambers.
Haha My favorite horror movie is Noroi. When I first watched it on youtube, I don't really have a lot of ideas about the documentary type of horror. It really feels like its a real story. I even tried to search it if it was real or not but the info during that time was really limited. And that is why its my favorite. Something like that could happen in real life.
I watched this years ago with a bunch of random people in a stream. We were all kinda just chilling and making jokes on the side until the third act, and then that ONE QUICK GLIMPSE at the end (you know the one). That image has terrified me, like genuinely spooked me, ever since. Just thinking about it now, midday, gives me goosebumps.
I'm a veteran of horror, which means that I am often jaded and rarely frightened by movies. I'm desensitized to demons and ghosts. Noroi genuinely, physically, viscerally frightened me. I have never in my life had to turn on the lights after watching a movie because I was frightened. There's a first time for everything, I guess.
I just saw it, my god. The best "found footage" type of film I've seen. I love everything about it, the suspense, the little things that you might miss the first time, for the film to really home in on it later. The ending was a bit expected, but still shocking when events played out the way they did. You aren't kidding about it feeling realistic, and playing on things that we're familiar with(or at least some of us who are exposed to Japanese media) the variety show(even the reactions) seemed so genuine, the niche maybe bs psychics, the intimate moments between friends. It's so good I can't believe I didn't see it earlier and I've been recommending it to everyone.
"MY GOD, THE PIGEONS!" I love Noroi so much, I want a tattoo of it, but don't even know what whackadoodle image to choose-- BUT DEFS NEVER KAGUTABA! Such a brilliant film. And if anyone ever mentions oolong tea, I'll never shut up doing that horrible groaning.
This film is a real gem, it's a very rare thing, a horror film that's actually horrifying. I'm not sure it'd be liked by the jump scare crowd, it's far too slow and you have to follow it, it even relys upon the watcher making some connections on their own. But it pays you back for your attention.
I tried to introduce this to a group of friends way back in the day. I spent a good amount of time explaining whay was going on and would find them on their phones during "non-scary" parts. 30 mins in, everyone was asleep
If you like this movie, i recommend checking out another work by this director titled Occult! That one i would categorise more as dark comedic horror…thing, but it’s super interesting too!
yeah this film isnt liked by jumpscare crew. i watched this movie on a website and there were comments under it how “slow and dragging” it was and how nothing happened until like the last 40 minutes.
No horror movie I've watched has had an impact even close to the one lake mungo had on me, the build up, the heartache, the dread, the grainy footage, the realistic setting...man, I went to sleep with the lights on the night I watched it
Lake Mungo changed me as a person and as a filmmaker, the subtleties of it taught me to use the background and the depth of the shot. It's easy to see a shot as one flat plane when you're working with actors but Lake Mungo uses the background to it's advantage. Absolute genius
There are 7 J-horror films that are considered masterpieces by everyone. Ring, Ju-on: The Grudge, Cairo, Suicide Club, Audition, Dark Water, Noroi. Noroi is the only one I still haven't watched. OK, now is the time.
I would also put a bunch of other Japanese horror films in that upper tier. Stuff like Strange Circus (2005), Miss Zombie (2013), Marebito (2004), Ghost Story of the Snow Witch (1968), Puzzle (2014), House (1977), Tetsuo (1989), Lesson of the Evil (2012), Naked Blood (1996), and I Am A Hero (2015) to name a few.
noroi is the only horror film, that in my late 30's made me feel uneasy after watching it. last time i had that feeling i was a toddler and i had watched The Thing unsupervised.
AHAH I remember searching the info of this movie if it's real or not. During that time, info was really limited so it was really in my mind. Thinking it might be a real event.
Noroi is by far the greatest Found Footage film ever made. The intricate web of stories, the daring use of mixed medias, the multiple frames which contextualize and recontextualize themselves...I can't think of any other movie which so thoroughly captivated and terrified me. The amount of detail and dedication is staggering. I have watched this film five times, and it still feels as fresh as the first.
It's unfortunate how niche the film is. I never got a wide release in the west, and I don't think it has a blu-ray release. The entire reason I can cover it now is because it came to Shudder.
As a skeptic that is nevertheless drawn to the supernatural, there is a feeling sometimes, as you do research, that you're right on the cusp of something. This one might be real. But there are limits to what you'll do to delve into a mystery when you have a day to day job and so on. A movie like this is effective because it draws a person like me in, sort of "oh look at this cusp of something that might be real!" It's an authentic feeling that makes the movie feel more authentic.
I'm so happy I found this movie at random, I was looking for foreign horror films because nowadays I can pretty much sleep through an American film. So when I found this one I was really happy and I really wanted to convince people to watch it, even if you don't like subtitles or found footage style its really good at making you feel uneasy.
I'm so glad to see more channels bringing light to this movie. It reminds me so much of those Japanese ghost videos that were circulating around UA-cam back in the day. This and Lake Mungo are great examples of how to make a "found footage" film incredibly effective.
Occult 2009 is another cool Japanese horror mockumentary film made by the same director, heck it even stars the guy as a lead role. This one’s more lovecraftian as it deals with an ancient Eldritch deity and dealing with destiny.
Really insightful of you to point out how the language of different film styles can impact audience expectations and, by extension, their engagement with a narrative. Another great video!
Noroi was one of the first horror movies to truly disturb me. It’s one thing to scare, but another to deeply unsettle. It’s been one of my top horror movies ever since. I keep a copy of it but every time I feel the urge to rewatch it...I can’t bring always bring myself to do so. It really affected me. Thank you for doing this video AC, I always look forward to your latest videos, but to see a video about a movie that means so much to me made my day.
Noroi is amazing because it strikes a perfect balance between slowly building tension and suspense - and actually having exciting and interesting things happen. Most horror films go too far in one of those directions.
Yes!! So much horror tries to force you into fear by having characters act hysterically, in effect telling you how you should feel and react. Noroi instead prioritizes curiosity, which leads to discovery and then dread. I liken it to a fairytale-- you never hear about Hansel and Gretel screaming in terror, you only hear about their situation. The situation itself is what creates fear.
God, when I was in 8th grade, my Japanese teacher made us watch this film (both to help our listening skills also because she I guess wanted to torture us lol) and this unlocked so many memories lol
Watched this movie last night after a TikTok video, i have not been this creeped out since I was a kid. I'm commuting now and i have these haunting images from the last half of the movie still popping in my head. I had to find a video about, cause it was so good.
noroi, gonjiam, and searching are some of the best found footage films ever. I've grown a liking to footage films due to the fact that they're aren't a whole lot of them and they're underrated.
I watched this video probably not long after it came out and this movie has been in the back of my mind ever since. Last week I FINALLY got my hands on it, and I LOVED it! Probably my favorite movie I've ever watched on the word of a UA-cam video. This does an excellent job showing what's so appealing about the film without giving anything away.
I love the movie, and I like how precic you explain what's going on with the way the movie is presented. The sense of realistic is what makes it scary, no jump scare, no special effects, it can gives you goosebumps with only actor in daylight, scare you with your own mind, that's a really rare thing a movie can does to my mind
Thanks for the video, 'Noroi' is such a great horror film but I rarely hear it mentioned or talked about. It's understated and bleak in a way that leaves a lasting impression and the characters are so well written and acted that the documentary style really feels authentic. It's just so good in so many ways.
Funny thing is, that the journalist is oblivious to the very end, he is thinking that he is saving the child but in the end he is keeping the monster, even after he finds how the ritual to the oni come back is made, he could have join the dots, humans babies instead of monkey babies, feed the blood to a psychic and then the oni is unleash, is a troupe of Japanese horror, like Ringu and Ju On, you think that you are doing the right thing, saving the ghost, when in reality you only are making things worse.
I’ve recently found your videos and can i just say your channel is ~ immaculate ~ thank you for talking about the things I’m interested in but could never find content about
I've been watching more Japanese films lately. Needing to real subtitles and watch a movie seems to make these films special. And so mind blowing. I've lost control of my emothions. Thank you for what I have learned.
I used to watch a lot of tv paranormal documentary back in the 90's and 2000's and I'm amaze at how the format was able to feel more convicing than what we have nowaday
Man I had such trouble watching the film all the way through without taking a breather. It was as just so bone chilling. Not in a blantant ‘ring’ or scary monster type of way. It’s just so ominous, like slowly piecing together a puzzle that will tell you how you’ll die. Real work of art
I commented on this video when it came out in August, but deleted it because I was only just gushing about the film. Instead, I'd like to tell the creator that his analysis of _Noroi_ was amazing. You greatly expressed the obscure horror and dread felt experiencing this, as well as breaking down the difference between found footage and what I call "documentary horror". Especially discussing the differences between Japanese variety talkshows, and slow creeping occurrences knotting themselves together. You're right, the talkshows devalue and disrespect a lot of evidence, but it all just continues to build and build to a truly horrid climax. I really hope that everyone interested in this movie will watch all the way through the credits, because that is easily the most terrifying and key part. So in summation, excellent essay. Thanks!
Today I finally subscribed to your channel, after following for quite some times. Noroi was/is one of my favourite J-horror and you described exactly how I felt when watching it. Walking the empty school hallway in the middle of the night. I’ve watched most if not all the movies you talked about. And one thing for sure, this channel will go far !!!
More to your point about the events of the film occurring in past-tense, it's also a great tool for building the mystery. Kobayashi is just a couple steps behind, and we're right along with him, always in the shadow of the curse but never quite uncovering it until the end. It builds the suspense and sucks us into the puzzle as it's slowly pieced together. Thanks for making this video! I don't think this movie gets the attention it deserves.
The story beat reminds me of The Black Tapes podcast from 2015. It’s formatted like SERIAL but everything slowly devolves to chaos and everything becomes connected. I’m guessing they were inspired by Noroi (2005) as well. This kind of horror storytelling format is really good!
Heck yeah Noroi. Even if you don't like horror it's worth seeing just for how much mileage it gets out of its concept/format. It's similar to found footage in that it's a fictional artefact, but it's a much more complex one.
so i never watched your video, but after being recommended....what feels like constantly by youtube's algorithm, i watched the first few seconds. i decided to give the movie a try, and i want to say thank you. this is they type of horror i love. no jump scares. no loud high-pitched-ear-raping sounds. just pure dread. any more like this?
What a great video man! So glad I just discovered your channel. Sorry it wasn't sooner :(... I just watched Noroi for the first time, and holy shit did I love it. I thought the recording of the ritual was one of the creepiest scenes ever in any horror film. It just looked, and felt so real and authentic. My God!
Noroi reminds me of the old days of UA-cam. When low quality horror videos were a big thing. Its almost as if someone decided to make one of those videos into an entire film, with all of its absurdity, yet chilling feasibility. You know its not real but there is that part of you that keeps whispering...it might be.
Bro i watched this on youtube like 9 years ago. I didn't get to sleep after i saw the ghosts at the end, it's like seeing a real ghost. This and The Exorcist are the only 2 movies that scared the hell out of me.
I’m yet to find a movie that makes me feel what I felt when I first saw Noroi :o I’m so happy you made this video! This is such an underrated movie and deserves much more attention! The first viewing is definitely an experience different from most horror movies (or at least it was for me)!
Thank you for sharing your perspective! I just watched this today, and I knew that I loved it, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. Alas, it had to be the documentary element that made it original! I really enjoyed The Blair Witch Project, but it didn't creep me out like Noroi did. Great video!
In the early 2000’s, I stumbled on a long defunct website called Asianhorrormovies.com and stumbled across this gem and many others. Growing up on Asian horror that I’m sure left me with mild ptsd (looking at you, The Imp), I’m not sure why I am constantly drawn back to Asian horror over western, something about them lingers long after the movie is over. So glad I found your channel.
This is Part One of our three-part world wide horror series. What other horror films from around the world should I cover? Leave a comment and let me know!
The Wailing!
Maybe Them (Ils) or Raw? Both french.
Marebito, or at least one day maybe. I suppose yiu might not want to do another Japanese film.
Ghost watch
I really like Under The Shadow, it's a Persian horror film or A Tale of Two Sisters and Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum from Korea. That last one I just watched last week and enjoyed.
I remember hunting for bits and pieces of this movie throughout UA-cam back in the days. Since the movie was broken into short 10 or so minute bites it really added to the feel that this was a real documentary. The time you spent searching for each clip really added to the experience.
That actually sounds like a great and appropriate experience!
@@AccentedCinema 聽起來像是個意外達成的後設手法
這種偽自拍的恐怖片之所以在歐美遠比在亞洲受歡迎是因為V8普及率差異
時至今日人人都有手機了，應該會給這類電影新的影響
Molotov Dog. There's a 720p full version here: ua-cam.com/video/aO4IktVcxyY/v-deo.html
@@landscapedetective4064 thanks
@@landscapedetective4064 thanks
I love how tell don't show actually helps to suspend our disbelief because it's now more related to documentaries and reality. It's a great example of how breaking the "rules" can actually serve you well in art.
That's a good point.
Yep. I actually hate this weird bias that people have developed about "showing" rather than "telling". Who came up with this strange rule? There are no rules in storytelling, and you limit yourself by thinking there are.
@@gauthamprak It's not technically a rule, more of a guideline that was created because it's been proven to work. So I don't exactly agree with you because those "rules" do work but like any other rule, a master can bend or break them
@@gauthamprak
I know it's your thoughts from few months ago which mean you could be changed already but you were confused before, however movie is medium of show{audiovisual & storytelling} which is *tell* could be considered as *show* in certain situations, Joker in TDK *tell* someone about something but his things changed on each person, it's *show* his madness by *tell,* it should be quite simple to understand that *tell* on the rule is literally *tell* without any contexts beside informations of *tell* itself.
you can go over rules if you know what you're doing-
Wild fact about this movie: one of the characters, Marika Matsumoto, plays as herself and she voiced Rikku in Final Fantasy 10!
Wait marika matsumoto is in the film i should watch this ASAP
She's so cute
Hey do you know where I can watch this film?
@@rini9325 theres one in youtube, try look it up
If it's Al bhed shoot it in the head, brudda.
I like how the film makes you feel like you're "investigating" with Kobayashi as a partner. I was also trying to put pieces of puzzles together with Kobayashi. All the time he "chat" with me (cameraman) as if I was with him in the story. That adds to the creepiness, making me feel like my personal space as an audience got invaded.
I agree with you here. The cameraman functions as a stand-in for the viewer, which makes it all the more brilliant when the climax at the lake has him finally participate in the action. That move was not accidental, it was done with great purpose. Every detail in this movie is calculated so carefully, for maximum effect.
I like how most of the movie (besides the unreleased episode) was filmed in daylight but still manages to heavily unnerve you. I still get more freaked out by Kobayashi walking around the cursed village in bright sunny daytime than any dark creepy monster. Oh and the baby noises! The sound design in the film is really great.
It's astonishing and daring just how bright this film is. It really adds to the viewer's sense that nowhere is safe, and that horror happens all the time, unseen but just waiting to be discovered.
The slowing down during Hori’s freakout has terrifying sound design.
"hallway of my school at night"
that is such a PERFECT way of describing that feeling. i literally have dreams about that exact situation with the same kind of feeling this movie has
I know! Like it just makes me feel dread of what is around the corner of if something is behind me
It was worse in dream since that eerie feeling is vastly visible like the whole world was your school corridor at blind night time
I remembered when in middle school i forgot my lunch box in classroom desk, and i have to get it back, if not i will not have lunch for the next day (how my parent teach me about responsibility lol), so my father only takes me into the front gate of the school and the school taker only opening the gate, and tell me just be fast, i cant describe how uneasy the feeling walking thru the school hallways passing other class, climbing the stairs until i reach my class, the environment is dark, cold and empty but it feel busy, my class is on the 4th floor, and after get my lunch box and get back with my father, i cant describe how relieve i feel.
@@magari5036 Wow, him seeing "hallway of my school at night" disturbed me too but in a completely different way than yours. For me, what came immediately to mind wasn't what's around the corner or behind me, though those two things are just as horrifying as well.
But as soon as he said that, I had an image of me walking down a hall. It's too dark to see much, other than what's provided from a sliver of light behind me (maybe the moonlight is slightly peeking through a window). But I can't see far ahead. So I'm walking ahead, and I'm dreading what I might see in front of me the closer I get.
😱😱😱
Noroi was one of the few films that managed to creep me out in my late teens when I saw it. Japanese horror has such a good grasp on getting that creepy rather than scary feeling you mentioned. Like Silent Hill 2 and what we almost got with PT, they have such a good understanding of keeping you constantly jittery instead of throwing scenes with jump scares at you. I'm glad you broke down the reasons for this so well. As usual I am always amazed to learn the reasons movies influence our minds as well as they do. Im always just like "it made me feel like x" rather than "this effect was used to make me feel x" lol. I am forever learning from your wisdom.
I find a lot of the content they create rather strange, but that's exactly the kind of quality you need for horror.
exactly - they dont throw jumpscares at you, they throw IDEAS at you, and go "think about the repurcussions of that by yourself" - which is WAY scarier
Props for the mention of PT... I agree with it... it's the sense of dread, "what's behind the corner" psychological fear that eats at you more so than jump scares (though PT jump scare got me still)...
@@teebles Dread is great. Check out the "Nothing is Scarier" TVTropes page if you haven't seen it before.
Noroi is my favorite found footage horror film.
The thing I love about the movie is that it doesn't style itself as a regular documentary but as a schlocky pulp documentary, like something you would find on the history channel such as "ghost hunters." They always play up little things, using sound and editing to make things seem more spooky than they really are. Since these types of programs have such bad creditability and always seem to "just miss" whatever supernatural thing they are hunting for it gears you to not actually expect anything to happen (unlike a traditional horror movie) which makes you more sensitive when stuff does happen.
Also I just like the idea that you get the impression that Kobayashi spent years hunting down "supernatural mysteries" and using editing and production to make them seem more real and dramatic. Who knows if he even believes in the rumors and legends he is making programs about. But, then he starts to realize that this is the real deal and that he is in over his head, like a fisherman who caught a whale or a dog that finally caught up to a car.
Good observation. This movie appeals to me in a lot of different ways, my favorite among them is its stylization as a real, trashy, variety special. The on-screen text, use of actual variety talent (Ungirls, Matsumoto Marika, etc.), the use of narration and newsmagazine music stings all come together to create a beat-for-beat reproduction of Japanese variety trash TV you'd see in the mid-2000s.
Noroi is a great experience. The fear slowly creeps up to you, and never use jump scares as a cheap alternative.
good times watching this movie uploaded on youtube many years ago.... wonder if it got removed..... D:
woop.. its still up on youtube... lol
actually saw it here a couple of months ago lol
Yoooo! Big fan!!
Just saw it yesterday, still on
@@Sam-il9in Thanks I'll watch it now
The director also makes another 3 unique found footage movie call "Okaruto" "Shirome" and "
Karuto" .
He also made Sadako vs. Kayako...
Oh my blood pressure.
@@AccentedCinema What a legend
Are these 3 good?
Occult would have been great if the effects weren't awful. Cult is okay. Nothing comes close to Noroi
Okaruto, or "Occult", was good UNTIL that ridiculously bad ending. Everyone fully believes the director just spent over an hour trolling people with that movie.
Noroi is by far one of my favourite movies in the horror genre and manages to creep me out everytime I watch thanks to the realistic feeling. The documentary style really sucks you in this movie. I also enjoyed the other movies of Koji Shiraishi (Cult, Shirome etc.) but none of them got me like Noroi, I would say Occult and Shirome are my second favourites. It's this eerie, subtle feeling and pacing I really enjoy in japanese horror movies over easy jumpscares and blatant visual kills or appearings of "the killer". I think insidious is a great example for it. The movie really got me until you saw that demon/devil thing in his full presence, at this moment all these unsettling feels and chills were gone instantly. It's more scary if you don't really know everything, so your mind can go on a creepy journey XD
If anyone is reading this, do you know more such movies or can even recommend any good books in this eerie style? :)
I can't think of many other films that do what Noroi does nearly as well as Noroi does it. The only ones that come to mind are 'In the Mouth of Madness' (it does world building and atmosphere like Noroi does, but much more blatantly), 'Profondo Rosso', 'The Exorcist III (yes, technically it's a sequel, but it stands on its own and is much more subtle than the first Exorcist and just as effective and affecting), as well as some of Hitchcock's films (though they don't have the same supernatural element) like 'Rear Window' or 'The 39 Steps'.
As for books, I would recommend 'Hell House' by Richard Matheson, 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski, 'The Wasp Factory' by Iain Banks, 'Coldheart Canyon' by Clive Barker, and maybe some of Lovecraft's works such as 'The Dreams in the Witch House', 'The Shadow Out of Time', 'The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath', 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward', 'The Whisperer in Darkness', and 'At the Mountains of Madness'. Also, the collection of short stories titled 'The King in Yellow', by Robert W. Chambers.
@@ramseydoon8277 Wow thank you so much for this list! I'll make sure to check out your recommendations :)
Again, not a horror film per se but Cure (1997) is magnificent it has that same terrifying sense.
Haha My favorite horror movie is Noroi. When I first watched it on youtube, I don't really have a lot of ideas about the documentary type of horror. It really feels like its a real story. I even tried to search it if it was real or not but the info during that time was really limited. And that is why its my favorite. Something like that could happen in real life.
watch
-Occult (same director of Noroi)
-Pulse (2001)
-Lake Mungo (2008)
-The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)
I watched this years ago with a bunch of random people in a stream. We were all kinda just chilling and making jokes on the side until the third act, and then that ONE QUICK GLIMPSE at the end (you know the one). That image has terrified me, like genuinely spooked me, ever since. Just thinking about it now, midday, gives me goosebumps.
Witch one. cause i dont remember
@@cosmiceyness
*Spoiler
I think he means the fetuses
I think he meant that boy’s face.
@@svyalinirnhut890 please don't remind me, i still get goosebumps
i get goosebumps from both of those images EUUUGH
I'm a veteran of horror, which means that I am often jaded and rarely frightened by movies. I'm desensitized to demons and ghosts. Noroi genuinely, physically, viscerally frightened me. I have never in my life had to turn on the lights after watching a movie because I was frightened. There's a first time for everything, I guess.
Noroi is my favourite horror movie of all time period! I’m so glad people are finding it and talking about it ahhh thank you so much!
Mine too! Poor Hori, what a darling.
@@ThePolterguys-bm3oc Well, what do you expect from a guy driven insane by ectoplasmic worms? Also, "My god! The pigeons!" is a really great line.
@@ThePolterguys-bm3oc "WHAT THE HELL IS KABUTABA!?"
Okay, I'll stop now, I promise. ^^
*Before watching the video:* _* turns off lights for better immersion *_
*While watching:* _* instantly regrets *_
I can understand your feeling
Man turns off lights for better immersion for a video instantly regrets it
I just saw it, my god. The best "found footage" type of film I've seen. I love everything about it, the suspense, the little things that you might miss the first time, for the film to really home in on it later. The ending was a bit expected, but still shocking when events played out the way they did. You aren't kidding about it feeling realistic, and playing on things that we're familiar with(or at least some of us who are exposed to Japanese media) the variety show(even the reactions) seemed so genuine, the niche maybe bs psychics, the intimate moments between friends. It's so good I can't believe I didn't see it earlier and I've been recommending it to everyone.
"MY GOD, THE PIGEONS!"
I love Noroi so much, I want a tattoo of it, but don't even know what whackadoodle image to choose-- BUT DEFS NEVER KAGUTABA! Such a brilliant film. And if anyone ever mentions oolong tea, I'll never shut up doing that horrible groaning.
This film is a real gem, it's a very rare thing, a horror film that's actually horrifying. I'm not sure it'd be liked by the jump scare crowd, it's far too slow and you have to follow it, it even relys upon the watcher making some connections on their own. But it pays you back for your attention.
I tried to introduce this to a group of friends way back in the day. I spent a good amount of time explaining whay was going on and would find them on their phones during "non-scary" parts. 30 mins in, everyone was asleep
@@Mogo-jan Oof
If you like this movie, i recommend checking out another work by this director titled Occult! That one i would categorise more as dark comedic horror…thing, but it’s super interesting too!
yeah this film isnt liked by jumpscare crew. i watched this movie on a website and there were comments under it how “slow and dragging” it was and how nothing happened until like the last 40 minutes.
A similar movie to Noroi in terms of its documentary structure would be the Australian horror film Lake Mungo from 2008.
No horror movie I've watched has had an impact even close to the one lake mungo had on me, the build up, the heartache, the dread, the grainy footage, the realistic setting...man, I went to sleep with the lights on the night I watched it
Lake munho is a modern horror masterpiece oh and that video on her phone in the dessert still hauntes me years later
Thanks for sharing this! I'm gonna add this to my watch-list
Noroi and Lake Mungo always be my top 2 FF movies of all time and horror in general
Lake Mungo changed me as a person and as a filmmaker, the subtleties of it taught me to use the background and the depth of the shot. It's easy to see a shot as one flat plane when you're working with actors but Lake Mungo uses the background to it's advantage. Absolute genius
There are 7 J-horror films that are considered masterpieces by everyone. Ring, Ju-on: The Grudge, Cairo, Suicide Club, Audition, Dark Water, Noroi. Noroi is the only one I still haven't watched. OK, now is the time.
I want to watch all of them, most of them I watched western remakes rather than the originals
Where are you watching them? 😭
its kairo. and i agree with you, those film are masterpiece, but i like noroi the most. its really disturbing and atmospheric. such a great film.
I would also put a bunch of other Japanese horror films in that upper tier. Stuff like Strange Circus (2005), Miss Zombie (2013), Marebito (2004), Ghost Story of the Snow Witch (1968), Puzzle (2014), House (1977), Tetsuo (1989), Lesson of the Evil (2012), Naked Blood (1996), and I Am A Hero (2015) to name a few.
Perfect Blue deserves to amongst them too.
noroi is the only horror film, that in my late 30's made me feel uneasy after watching it. last time i had that feeling i was a toddler and i had watched The Thing unsupervised.
Man this movie gave me the chills foreal. I felt tense the entire time.
Tam Ago 😂😂
AHAH I remember searching the info of this movie if it's real or not. During that time, info was really limited so it was really in my mind. Thinking it might be a real event.
Noroi is by far the greatest Found Footage film ever made. The intricate web of stories, the daring use of mixed medias, the multiple frames which contextualize and recontextualize themselves...I can't think of any other movie which so thoroughly captivated and terrified me. The amount of detail and dedication is staggering. I have watched this film five times, and it still feels as fresh as the first.
Saw this movie somewhere on youtube. It was really good. I was surprised how good it was but not as popular as the other horror films.
It's unfortunate how niche the film is. I never got a wide release in the west, and I don't think it has a blu-ray release. The entire reason I can cover it now is because it came to Shudder.
You know when a channel is legit? Its when they talk about niche and really good movie.
As a skeptic that is nevertheless drawn to the supernatural, there is a feeling sometimes, as you do research, that you're right on the cusp of something. This one might be real. But there are limits to what you'll do to delve into a mystery when you have a day to day job and so on. A movie like this is effective because it draws a person like me in, sort of "oh look at this cusp of something that might be real!" It's an authentic feeling that makes the movie feel more authentic.
Most of horror films: oh that's pretty scary.
This kind of horror films: 怕.jpg
J-Horror and realistic are words I never thought would go together, especially when shot in a documentary-style format
I'm so happy I found this movie at random, I was looking for foreign horror films because nowadays I can pretty much sleep through an American film. So when I found this one I was really happy and I really wanted to convince people to watch it, even if you don't like subtitles or found footage style its really good at making you feel uneasy.
This is my favourite J-Horror, so underrated. Glad you did a video on it.
Lol I've never expected to see J-horror and realistic in one premise. Brilliant!
I'm so glad to see more channels bringing light to this movie. It reminds me so much of those Japanese ghost videos that were circulating around UA-cam back in the day. This and Lake Mungo are great examples of how to make a "found footage" film incredibly effective.
Had my finger on the volume control because I kept expecting those screams 😓
Occult 2009 is another cool Japanese horror mockumentary film made by the same director, heck it even stars the guy as a lead role. This one’s more lovecraftian as it deals with an ancient Eldritch deity and dealing with destiny.
I see a new Accented Cinema, I watch the whole video and put a like. But If I see a new Accented Cinema on horror movies, I instantly like.
Really insightful of you to point out how the language of different film styles can impact audience expectations and, by extension, their engagement with a narrative. Another great video!
Yoooooo, my boy is SPONSORED!
Now I gotta watch this scary-ass thing all the way through 😂😭
Did you watch it? If you make it through, come back and tell us about your experience!
Noroi was one of the first horror movies to truly disturb me. It’s one thing to scare, but another to deeply unsettle. It’s been one of my top horror movies ever since. I keep a copy of it but every time I feel the urge to rewatch it...I can’t bring always bring myself to do so. It really affected me.
Thank you for doing this video AC, I always look forward to your latest videos, but to see a video about a movie that means so much to me made my day.
Love your content, I haven't even watched yet and I'm excited to see your take on this JHorror
that last scene in this movie is one of the most terrifying scenes in horror movie history
It made me weep uncontrollably the first time I saw it. My most visceral reaction to any film ever.
@@MadamFoogie I froze for a moment and goosebumps level 5
I never watch this movie before I'm easily scared so can you please tell me what's this movie about and what's the ending?
Noroi is amazing because it strikes a perfect balance between slowly building tension and suspense - and actually having exciting and interesting things happen. Most horror films go too far in one of those directions.
Yes!! So much horror tries to force you into fear by having characters act hysterically, in effect telling you how you should feel and react. Noroi instead prioritizes curiosity, which leads to discovery and then dread. I liken it to a fairytale-- you never hear about Hansel and Gretel screaming in terror, you only hear about their situation. The situation itself is what creates fear.
I only heard about this movie thanks to a friend originally. Cool to see it talked about on a channel like this.
watched this movie after seeing your thumbnail. glad I found this movie, it was a really creepy movie, hope there are more hidden gems like this one.
"mud"
yeah, this sounds like a movie I would like to see!
(explanation: "noroi" in romanian means "mud" and it seems funny to me)
God, when I was in 8th grade, my Japanese teacher made us watch this film (both to help our listening skills also because she I guess wanted to torture us lol) and this unlocked so many memories lol
When I read that Captions Are Available: Oh God... I already love this.
thank you for including captions!!
I legitimately think you might be my favourite movie essay UA-camr
Just got done watching this for the first time, and I feel out of breath. The only word that comes to mind is INTENSE.
6:06 Background sound used here was also used in Ib (an indie-horror game).
I loved Ib. I miss it.
Watched this movie last night after a TikTok video, i have not been this creeped out since I was a kid. I'm commuting now and i have these haunting images from the last half of the movie still popping in my head. I had to find a video about, cause it was so good.
"Noroi" is truly one of the most terrifying movies I have ever seen, and it is one of my favourite J-horror movies in general.
noroi, gonjiam, and searching are some of the best found footage films ever. I've grown a liking to footage films due to the fact that they're aren't a whole lot of them and they're underrated.
Yesss, Noroi! I watched this years ago and still remember it as thoroughly unnerving thanks to the superb editing choices.
I watched this video probably not long after it came out and this movie has been in the back of my mind ever since. Last week I FINALLY got my hands on it, and I LOVED it! Probably my favorite movie I've ever watched on the word of a UA-cam video. This does an excellent job showing what's so appealing about the film without giving anything away.
i watched this during midnight, it sure gave me some chills
also nice vid btw
I love the commentary! As an anthropologist I love the telling of the emotions. Lovely
You had me interested in the first four minutes. I paused this to watch it before I continued on with your video essay. Now I watch this.
O _ O
I love the movie, and I like how precic you explain what's going on with the way the movie is presented. The sense of realistic is what makes it scary, no jump scare, no special effects, it can gives you goosebumps with only actor in daylight, scare you with your own mind, that's a really rare thing a movie can does to my mind
Thanks for the video, 'Noroi' is such a great horror film but I rarely hear it mentioned or talked about. It's understated and bleak in a way that leaves a lasting impression and the characters are so well written and acted that the documentary style really feels authentic. It's just so good in so many ways.
Funny thing is, that the journalist is oblivious to the very end, he is thinking that he is saving the child but in the end he is keeping the monster, even after he finds how the ritual to the oni come back is made, he could have join the dots, humans babies instead of monkey babies, feed the blood to a psychic and then the oni is unleash, is a troupe of Japanese horror, like Ringu and Ju On, you think that you are doing the right thing, saving the ghost, when in reality you only are making things worse.
I absolutely LOVE this film. Its horrifying and I love horror, so not very much manages to scare me.
I’ve recently found your videos and can i just say your channel is ~ immaculate ~ thank you for talking about the things I’m interested in but could never find content about
Just finished watching this film, wouldn't have known about it if it wasn't for this channel. Grade A J-horror spoop.
I've been watching more Japanese films lately. Needing to real subtitles and watch a movie seems to make these films special. And so mind blowing. I've lost control of my emothions. Thank you for what I have learned.
You've been talking about J-horror for a long time now, I think I'll try it out.
Thanks for all the great film essays!
An excellent analysis, as usual. Now I'm off to hunt down a copy of Noroi.
it's on youtube
Noroi is such great horror movie, very intimate way of scares the audience! =)
Your explanation is as excellent as Every Frame A Painting. Keep up the great work !👍
I used to watch a lot of tv paranormal documentary back in the 90's and 2000's and I'm amaze at how the format was able to feel more convicing than what we have nowaday
Man I had such trouble watching the film all the way through without taking a breather. It was as just so bone chilling. Not in a blantant ‘ring’ or scary monster type of way. It’s just so ominous, like slowly piecing together a puzzle that will tell you how you’ll die. Real work of art
glad to see ppl talking about this movie, its been my favorite for years
I commented on this video when it came out in August, but deleted it because I was only just gushing about the film. Instead, I'd like to tell the creator that his analysis of _Noroi_ was amazing. You greatly expressed the obscure horror and dread felt experiencing this, as well as breaking down the difference between found footage and what I call "documentary horror". Especially discussing the differences between Japanese variety talkshows, and slow creeping occurrences knotting themselves together. You're right, the talkshows devalue and disrespect a lot of evidence, but it all just continues to build and build to a truly horrid climax. I really hope that everyone interested in this movie will watch all the way through the credits, because that is easily the most terrifying and key part. So in summation, excellent essay. Thanks!
Today I finally subscribed to your channel, after following for quite some times. Noroi was/is one of my favourite J-horror and you described exactly how I felt when watching it. Walking the empty school hallway in the middle of the night. I’ve watched most if not all the movies you talked about. And one thing for sure, this channel will go far !!!
awesome content as usual !
This is still on youtube oddly enough and Shudder if you happen to have it
It was a breath of fresh air
Solid review! Watched this then the movie recently and it was everything you said it was. Awesome video essay. Thank you.
Documentary(mockumentary)/Found Footage hybrids tend to always be more interesting to watch, especially with the horror genre.
I love this man's accent. It sounds coy yet firm. That's it. That' my comment.
One of my favorite films, glad to see it getting featured here.
I haven't even watch the movie and near the end of this video, an empty bottle fell off back in my kitchen. It scared the f*k outta me !
The fact that this film creeps you out during daylight scenes....
More to your point about the events of the film occurring in past-tense, it's also a great tool for building the mystery. Kobayashi is just a couple steps behind, and we're right along with him, always in the shadow of the curse but never quite uncovering it until the end. It builds the suspense and sucks us into the puzzle as it's slowly pieced together. Thanks for making this video! I don't think this movie gets the attention it deserves.
I saw this years ago, and it really stuck with me. I'm glad you made this appreciation.
The story beat reminds me of The Black Tapes podcast from 2015. It’s formatted like SERIAL but everything slowly devolves to chaos and everything becomes connected. I’m guessing they were inspired by Noroi (2005) as well. This kind of horror storytelling format is really good!
I love your channel. ❤❤❤ Your video essays are polished, informative, and fascinating.
Heck yeah Noroi. Even if you don't like horror it's worth seeing just for how much mileage it gets out of its concept/format. It's similar to found footage in that it's a fictional artefact, but it's a much more complex one.
Just found your channel.
How do you not have 1 million subs?
Your content is amazing!
Noroi and Lake Mungo are two of my favorite horror movies. They feel realistic and personal, and that is what makes them creepy af.
Just found this video while in bed and i love it. Looking forward to your other videos!
so i never watched your video, but after being recommended....what feels like constantly by youtube's algorithm, i watched the first few seconds. i decided to give the movie a try, and i want to say thank you. this is they type of horror i love. no jump scares. no loud high-pitched-ear-raping sounds. just pure dread. any more like this?
What a great video man! So glad I just discovered your channel. Sorry it wasn't sooner :(... I just watched Noroi for the first time, and holy shit did I love it. I thought the recording of the ritual was one of the creepiest scenes ever in any horror film. It just looked, and felt so real and authentic. My God!
Noroi reminds me of the old days of UA-cam. When low quality horror videos were a big thing. Its almost as if someone decided to make one of those videos into an entire film, with all of its absurdity, yet chilling feasibility. You know its not real but there is that part of you that keeps whispering...it might be.
Hands down my favorite hour of all time. From the first minute it had me immersed in its world.
the video alone gave me chills, i wonder what it'll be like watching this, thanks for the video bro
Bro i watched this on youtube like 9 years ago. I didn't get to sleep after i saw the ghosts at the end, it's like seeing a real ghost. This and The Exorcist are the only 2 movies that scared the hell out of me.
I’m yet to find a movie that makes me feel what I felt when I first saw Noroi :o I’m so happy you made this video! This is such an underrated movie and deserves much more attention! The first viewing is definitely an experience different from most horror movies (or at least it was for me)!
Thank you for sharing your perspective! I just watched this today, and I knew that I loved it, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. Alas, it had to be the documentary element that made it original! I really enjoyed The Blair Witch Project, but it didn't creep me out like Noroi did. Great video!
I agree! "Show don't tell" is an essential element to make a great film. Those who can do this usually are great films.
In the early 2000’s, I stumbled on a long defunct website called Asianhorrormovies.com and stumbled across this gem and many others. Growing up on Asian horror that I’m sure left me with mild ptsd (looking at you, The Imp), I’m not sure why I am constantly drawn back to Asian horror over western, something about them lingers long after the movie is over. So glad I found your channel.