Cursed (Japanese 2004) Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: Various characters are pursued and killed by the spirits haunting a convenience store.

Review: First, I need to acknowledge that this film goes by like 3 other titles which is confusing enough, however, there is also the Wes Craven movie about werewolves from the same year. Sheesh. Okay, setting that nonsense aside, what are we actually getting here? Coming from the heyday of Asian horror, this film is so close to being a forgotten gem, but, unfortunately, an aimless story and weak ending hurt the final impression. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of positives here--the opening sequence is especially effective in capturing your attention and wastes no time kicking things off. No...what hurts is that the characters are too nonchalant about the horrors they experience, and there is no resolution for the most part; it's like we're missing half of the final act or something.

The best way to imagine this film is if "The Grudge" took place at 7-Eleven (or whatever convenience store is popular). Something I found intriguing was this idea that the ghosts functioned quite logically: if a customer rings up a price that is superstitious (like 666 or 999) you either die or get tricked into killing someone. As a secondary consequence of this haunting, the employees become...well...cursed as misfortune comes their way or they're semi-possessed. This presentation of dread establishes a creepy atmosphere as characters are always on edge and sense something is not right. When a character does bite the dust, the scares are surprisingly well done. You're not going to be blown away by originality or anything, but I thought the filmmakers did an excellent job while only once using a long-haired ghost girl; and she was pretty cute--can come out of my fridge any time!

The other aspect that is a tremendous plus is the pacing. Far too often do film's dick around, and, considering the ADHD generation we're in, "Cursed" will hold your interest. I shit you not, 90 seconds into the runtime and we have a poor schoolgirl dying, and that's after she tries to warn her friend (and the audience) that there's something not right with the store. Admittedly, there are a handful of slow parts when characters discuss the haunting (which I'll come back to), but, for the most part, we are jumping from one set piece to the next in quick succession. Even if you think the scares are weak, you will appreciate the abundance of them and how each one tries to do something unique. The last positive I'll mention is that Japanese quirkiness that is hard to describe--that innate weirdness that is oozing from the story.

So what is holding "Cursed" back from being a J-horror legend? As mentioned, there is this aimlessness to the events--almost as if this is a slice of life story except with killer ghosts. It's hard to adequately express, but if the characters aren't that bothered by what's happening, it's hard for the audience to care. Even if we take some crazy, old lady's word as gospel for the origin of the haunting, the main characters kind of shrug their shoulders and carry on. Yes, the main girl, Nao, does save her co-worker and they leave, but are you really free from the ghosts after that? And the lady from corporate...she's just, what, gonna keep doing the inventory?! I'm not saying we needed someone trying to burn down the store or something that dramatic, but at least have closure for each of the survivors or have them killed off. Another major issue is the low-budget, made-for-TV production value. It doesn't necessarily bother me, but there is a lack of polish that differentiates this from the likes of "Ring" or "The Grudge."

"Cursed" is a mixed bag for me. Sure, I enjoyed it--found myself captivated even--but I'm a big fan of this era in Asian horror and can overlook much of the shenanigans. There's a bit too much action and not enough substance. Focusing solely on the Nao character probably would've created a through line that this film desperately needed. There is much to praise, however, there is this hollowness to the experience whereby I'm left wanting more. Still, given the slick pacing and fun scares, I would still suggest fans of the genre check this out.

Notable Moment: While the opening kill does a lot to suck the viewer in, I thought the coolest scare was the figure appearing within the curtains at the one chick's apartment.

Final Rating: 6/10