Noroi (2005)

☆ ☆ ½

Noroi (2005) – K. Shiraishi

Back when J-Horror was the thing (after the mega-success of Hideo Nakata’s Ringu, 1998), a number of other films capitalized well on the trend (e.g., Ju-On, Pulse, maybe Dark Water).  Nozoi was a relative latecomer (it didn’t cross my radar then) but now with a decade gone by, it seems even more out-of-date (those videotapes!).  Taking his cues from the Blair Witch songbook, director Koji Shiraishi positions the footage we see as “found” after the mysterious disappearance of the central protagonist, a paranormal investigator. More specifically, we get to see the rough cut of a documentary he was making about a young girl with E. S. P. who disappears, leading the filmmakers to learn about a demon who needs to be assuaged with an annual ritual and who just might have possessed someone.  As is typical with J-Horror, the dots don’t really connect in a way that makes sense but each individual dot is laden with creepiness -- or designed to be that way (the film trots out some typical spooky clichés).  The problem here is that the whole film feels slow as molasses and any foreboding that might begin to build simply seeps away as the investigator plods on.  Some of the acting did not convince either.  Staged versions of Japanese variety TV shows with real comedians and talento playing roles were the highlight.  The shocking ending basically woke me up (too much screaming) but by then it was too late.