‘Exit 8’ Brings Subway Horror to the Big Screen
The Japanese psychological horror film Exit 8 has captured international attention following its remarkable premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Based on the cult indie video game “The Exit 8” that became a viral sensation with over 1.4 million downloads worldwide, this innovative adaptation is set to terrify audiences when it releases in Japan […]
A Pale View of Hills: A Haunting Tale of Memory, Grief, and Inheritance
A Pale View of Hills by Kei Ishikawa is a beautiful adaptation of Japanese novelist Kazuo Ishiguro’s first novel, which is very popular. The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, and the story looks at trauma that passes down through generations, memory, and the […]
Film Spotlight: Ito (2021)
A shy teen from rural Aomori finds herself unexpectedly working at a Tokyo-style maid café—and slowly begins to bloom. Ito, directed by Yokohama Satoko, is a touching coming-of-age drama that blends the soulful tradition of shamisen music with the quirky world of cosplay cafés. Komai Ren plays Ito, a high school student who battles identity, […]
Our Secret Diary (2023) – At the Japanese Film Festivals
Directed by Kentaro Takemura, Our Secret Diary (Original Title: 交換ウソ日記) is a sweet and tangled love story currently being screened at the Japanese Film Festival in Australia from October 13th to 27th, 2024. Synopsis Our Secret Diary follows Nozomi Kuroda, a shy high school student who finds a love letter on her desk from Jun […]
‘I Am What I Am’ (そばかす, Sobakasu) (2022)
“I Am What I Am” is a thought-provoking Japanese drama about Kasumi Sobata, a woman who chooses to champion herself, carving out a life of independence and self-determination without the need for romance or societal validation. Released on December 16, 2022, “I Am What I Am” is a heartfelt film that explores a woman’s journey […]
“Sweet My Home” – Japanese Horror Film Set to Haunt Theaters
A new Japanese horror film “Sweet My Home” (スイート・マイホーム) that is expected to send chills down your spine hits theaters on September 1, 2023, and it’s set to deliver a haunting tale that reveals the dark secrets of a seemingly perfect family home. Movie Synopsis – Sweet My Home Kenji Kiyosawa (Masataka Kubota) is a […]
“CLOUD” – A New Japanese Psychological Thriller Premieres at Venice
CLOUD (Japanese: クラウド) is a highly anticipated 2024 Japanese psychological thriller written and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, noted for his talent in portraying the darker aspects of human nature. The film, starring Masaki Suda, is planned to screen out of competition at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2024. What is ‘CLOUD’ […]
My Broken Mariko (2022): A Journey of Friendship and Grief
“My Broken Mariko” is a road movie about a woman who embarks on a journey carrying her deceased best friend Mariko’s bones. Synopsis Tomoyo (NAGANO Mei), an office worker, learns from television news that her best friend Mariko (NAO) died after falling from an apartment building. Mariko had suffered severe abuse from her father since […]
Manhole: Kazuyoshi Kumakiri’s Claustrophobic Thriller
“Manhole,” directed by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, is a heart-pounding Japanese thriller that explores the boundaries of human endurance and the desperate fight for existence in the most claustrophobic of circumstances. Released earlier this year in Japan in February, the film is now included in the PANORAMA section of Sitges Film Festival (October 5 – 15th, 2023). […]
Japanese Horror Film: “The Forbidden Play” (2023)
Based on Karma Shimizu’s novel “Kinjirareta Asobi,” and directed by Hideo Nakata (known for the iconic “Ring”), the Japanese horror film “The Forbidden Play” (禁じられた遊び) unveils a chilling tale. The story follows young Haruto, grieving the loss of his beloved mother Miyuki, as he takes matters into his own hands in a desperate attempt to […]