Noroi: The Curse is a Japanese horror film that was released in 2005. It is directed by Koji Shiraishi and is known for its found footage style. The film revolves around a documentary filmmaker named Masafumi Kobayashi who investigates the mysterious events surrounding a woman named Junko Ishii and her young neighbor, who is believed to possess supernatural powers. **The main idea of Noroi: The Curse is the exploration of the paranormal and the consequences of dabbling with supernatural forces.** As Masafumi delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a series of disturbing incidents, including the unexplained deaths of several people and the presence of a malevolent spirit known as Kagutaba. Throughout the film, the audience is presented with a mix of found footage and interviews, creating a sense of realism and immersing the viewer in the story.

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I Just Watched One Of the Scariest Found Footage Movies I’ve Ever Seen

Kōji Shiraishi’s found-footage classic Noroi: The Curse is a movie I’ve been meaning to see for a long time now. I love found footage (yeah, I’m THAT guy) and Shiraishi’s film has been on the top of many must-see found footage movies for years now. Actually, since 2005 when it was originally released. But it has been hard (as hell) to find a copy. The film has not received a DVD or Blu-ray release in the U.S.

Also Read: 13 Lesser-Known Found Footage Films That Just Might Restore Your Faith in the Genre

Noroi: The Curse was released in Japan in 2005, and had limited distribution. Luckily, Shudder started streaming it last year. And I finally had the chance to sit down and experience the terror first-hand for the first time. What did I think? Let’s find out!

I’m going to try not to get into spoilers – at the moment. That will come down at the end. But for those of you out there that have never seen – or heard of the film – let’s take a moment and get all the ins and outs out of the way.

Kōji Shiraishi directed and co-wrote the 2005 Japanese horror film. Jin Muraki stars as Masafumi Kobayashi, a paranormal researcher investigating a series of mysterious events for a documentary. Actress Marika Matsumoto plays a fictionalized version of herself. Rio Kanno, Tomono Kuga, and Satoru Jitsunashi round out the killer cast.

Also Read: Open Letter: I Miss Found Footage Flicks

To say much more might be too much. But I’ll skate that line anyhow. The film tells the rather simple tale of a man investigating some strange noises from a woman’s neighboring house. She says she hears babies crying – but the woman next door doesn’t have a baby. Let alone the sound played back seems to suggest at least five babies crying at once. At the least. Brr… It only gets much, much worse from there.

So if you’re a fan of found-footage and – like me – have missed every other chance to see the film until now, make sure to head on over to Shudder tonight and stream Kōji Shiraishi’s found-footage classic Noroi: The Curse. It just might be the best of its kind. Now… let’s get into the specifics…

Warning: Here There Be Spoilers

There now that everyone who hasn’t seen the movie has averted their eyes, let’s get into some spoiler-y specifics about what makes the movie so motherf*cking scary!

Some of the best moments are found in the quiet bits of creeping dread, rather than all-out horror. Which is where the bloody bread and butter of all found-footage lies. What’s happening off-camera. And this movie has that in spades. For instance, I was super freaked out as the heroes drove through the village on the way to the dam – and see all the dogs are gone. Oh, shit. I’m not saying that the reveal of all the massacred dogs deep in the woods, later on, wasn’t mentally scarring – I’m just saying the slow reveal that all the dogs were gone freaked me out on a deeper level.

And that brings up a point about this movie. Usually, it’s the build-up in a horror movie – found-footage or otherwise – that wins me over. The eventual reveal of horror and gore USUALLY doesn’t match up to the fear of the unknown. I mean don’t get me wrong, I love a good gore-filled showdown as much as the next chump on the block. But it’s usually a letdown. Not in this film. The all-out horror finale is debatably scarier than the scary-ass hour and 30 minutes leading up to it. I mean, making a little girl eat old dead baby fetuses? What’s more fucking horrifying than THAT?! Maybe if they shipped over from the set of A Serbian Film… Eww. Sorry for that visual.

Also Read: 5 Genuinely Scary Movies Now Streaming Over on Netflix

Anyhow, all jokes aside, I’ll tell you what’s actually scarier than making a little girl eat old dead baby fetuses (off-screen). Seeing them crawling all over her (on-screen). Like that scene from Family Guy where Peter uses cologne that attracts sick stray cats. It’s going to take a lot of CocoMelon to wipe THAT image out of my head.

And that’s not even getting into the film’s final moments! You know the ones. After a brilliant set of fake-out credits, it’s revealed that the documentary is over – but there is still more footage to fear. Months later, someone sends the hero’s final tape to a newspaper and we get to see it all. This includes bashing a little kid’s head in with a rock, the little boy standing up after getting all Irreversable‘d, and our hero’s wife setting herself on fire. Which is probably a better fate than to have to live with the images of what she’s just seen in her head one minute longer. I don’t blame her.

Kōji Shiraishi’s found-footage classic Noroi: The Curse is now available for streaming over on Shudder. You can go ahead a nd stream it uncut and ad-free right over HERE.

Are you a fan of Kōji Shiraishi’s found-footage classic Noroi: The Curse?

Make sure to let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also hit me up over on Twitter @MikeSpregg325.

Noroi the curse dvd

Simply one of the most interesting and creepiest films I've seen in a while. Told through the documentary perspective (a-la Blair Witch), we follow a reporter investigating supernatural events. In this movie we follow his last case, leading up to his disappearance.

I'll have a positive review posted shortly. In the mean time, you can view the film in its entirety on youtube:

I wouldn't suggest viewing the trailer, as it will spoil a few potential creepy moments for you. I went in the movie not knowing anything and I was genuinely creeped out at some scenes. :shakes:

I just finished watching; I though this was a very good, eerie film with some pretty freaky scenes. Had some good characters as well, though I found Mr. Hori's character a bit irriating at times and the hand gestures and jerks were interesting as well :ahheh:. Luckily the scenes with him are not that long. This film sorta reminded me of Uzumaki, especially with the symbols that are introduced. Overall, I liked it.

Is this available via torrents?

I hate watching movies on YouTube.

I just finished watching; I though this was a very good, eerie film with some pretty freaky scenes. Had some good characters as well, though I found Mr. Hori's character a bit irriating at times and the hand gestures and jerks were interesting as well :ahheh:. Luckily the scenes with him are not that long. This film sorta reminded me of Uzumaki, especially with the symbols that are introduced. Overall, I liked it.

I didn't mind his character, nor any of the characters actually. I also thought of Uzumaki with the imagery and what-not. It's the type of movie you would have to see more than once to notice everything, especially in the background.

Found out Kadokawa Pictures USA had plans to release the film on the DVD in the US sometime this year, so I decided to email'em to get further details on it, but I didn't really get any new info. Here's what they said:

Thank you for your inquiry about out title NOROI.

We sincerely appreciate that you have interest in this title.

We are planning to release NOROI on DVD in the U.S., but we do not know when that would happen. We will officially announce on our website at www.kadokawapicturesusa.com if there is any update.

Thank you for your continuing support.

They're sittin' on a gold mine :mad:

All the comments over at CR are positive.

Showed this flick to my GF earlier and she had to sleep with the hallway light on. Shes never had to do that before :D

Fantastic! 9/10 - It's def. one of the creepiest films I ever saw I'm not too familiar with Japanese films other than the crappy american remakes and I have to say if the others are like this I'll start checking more out. A must watch to all who read. The only flaw I saw was that it was a bit long but right when I was about to yawn a bit things got more interesting. The ending was spectacular.

If you guys haven't yet, I strongly recommend checking out the very well done UK movie Ghost Watch, it's in the same vein as Noroi. A little over the top in the end but very effective none the less.

It created quite a stir when it originally aired on TV.

But don't visit the Wikipedia page about it as it will ruin parts of the movie for you, aswell as spoil the look of the ghost.

I've been meaning to check out that Ghost Watch for a while now. I should give it a look now that you've reminded me :nod:

There were a couple moments that I didn't care for in Noroi.

SPOILERS (highlight to read)

The scene at the shrine with Kana and the babies, the Kana in Kobayashi's house and when you see the kagutaba masks in the camera interference, I wish they would have been done differently. They were good scenes and effective but I just wish they would have been a little more subtle like the shot of the ghost at the shrine in the beginning.

Nothing that would make me say the movie is bad or make me dislike the movie, especially since the scene were necessary. Just my personal preference that makes me kinda wish those scenes would have been done differently.

Watched this movie then relized I had to walk to the store. It was 2:30 in the morning. While supernatural movies dont really scare me I did walk a little faster that night.

Thanks for suggesting such a great movie Fright!:bigthumbup:

Its nice to watch a asian horror movie without a long black haired ghost being in your face throughout the movie for once.

Wow Fright saying it was creepy goes a long way. I"ll have to get a torrent of it and rip it onto a DVD. Fright would you say this was scarier than [Rec]? Thats the last film that creeped me out. Great review too.

Fright would you say this was scarier than [Rec]? Thats the last film that creeped me out. Great review too.

Rec was creepy, but it didn't give me chills like this movie did. So, I would say yes, it is scarier, at least to me.

Rec was creepy, but it didn't give me chills like this movie did. So, I would say yes, it is scarier, at least to me.
Awesome. I know Rec made my friends shit there pants. I can't wait to see this one.
Edit: Now I just have to find it on a torrent site. :(

Awesome. I know Rec made my friends shit there pants. I can't wait to see this one.
Edit: Now I just have to find it on a torrent site. :(

[REC] wasn't scary.

Noroi: The Curse (http://tracker.zaerc.com/torrents-details.php?id=9767)

[REC] wasn't scary.

Noroi: The Curse (http://tracker.zaerc.com/torrents-details.php?id=9767)
I thought the last fifteen minutes or so was pretty intense. Thanks for the link your awesome. :coolbeer:

oh great FrighT, why don't u give us herion next.

I wish it was on DVD.

I watched this last night. Really solid movie. My wife had to leave the room because she couldn't take Hori's incessant scratching of his skin,lol. It was definitely worth the $10 I plunked down to get it on dvd.

Cool, I take it you got the Malaysian DVD? The subs good?

I showed it to my girl's mom and bro the other night. The mom thought it was really scary, while it was the 2nd viewing for the bro, I guess he really likes the movie :bigthumbup:

Cool, I take it you got the Malaysian DVD? The subs good?

Yup, that was the one. Subs were good. nothing really noticeable in terms of butchering the English language. I was impressed with the quality overall.

Here's the link to HK Flix if anyone's interested in buying it.
http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/filmID.544532/qx/details.htm

Yup, that was the one. Subs were good. nothing really noticeable in terms of butchering the English language. I was impressed with the quality overall.

Here's the link to HK Flix if anyone's interested in buying it.
http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/filmID.544532/qx/details.htm

Thanks for the link :coolbeer:

Thanks for the link :coolbeer:

No problem. :coolbeer:
Spending $10 beats the shit out of trying to watch it in front of the computer IMO.

u people order a lot from the hk flix's?

I order occasionally. Never had a single problem. Fright had told me that as long as the item is in stock, they tend to ship pretty quickly. He was right, as I received my latest order in roughly a week or so.

Depends. They carry all different stuff. With Noroi, they carry two versions. One is a Region 3 and the other(which I got) is a Region 0. You should be able to find either a Region 0 or Region 1 version of pretty much anything they've got.

HKFlix was great for me. Got my order very fast everytime I order through them. Can't say the same about YesAsia, though :dsp:

And Misfit, you know most DVD players can be cracked to where they can play any region of DVDs right? Though, I don't think it works for European DVDs because they've got that PAL junk, but I know Asian movies will still work for it. I did it with mine, and it works perfectly. And it's very easy to crack also, I just had to press like five buttons. :bigthumbup: Helps in the long run and saves you money sometimes.

Bastards took at least a week to ship out my cd. I pre-ordered it three weeks before the release, and when the release date came, for at least five days, they were saying "We're looking for suppliers." I would have thought that if they were allowing for pre-orders, they would have already had some suppliers lined up. I had also paid extra money for it to get there quicker (chose the 3-5 day arrival method), and, of coarse, they just made the minimum by having it arrive 5 days later. :thumbsdown: When I had ordered from HKFlix, I chose the regular shipping, and my movies got to my house it literally 3 days. So, what I learned; stick to HKFlix for movies, and CDJapan for CDs :dsp:

Yesasia imports a lot, which usually takes 5 days to a week, depending on what kind of shipping you choose, so it doesn't surprise me really.

Throughout the film, the audience is presented with a mix of found footage and interviews, creating a sense of realism and immersing the viewer in the story. The pacing of the film is slow-burning, gradually building tension and suspense as the protagonist inches closer to the truth. One of the strengths of Noroi: The Curse is its atmospheric and eerie cinematography.

The use of night vision cameras, surveillance footage, and handheld shots adds to the sense of unease and helps create a sense of authenticity. The sound design also contributes to the overall creepiness, with the subtle use of whispers and distant voices. The film tackles various themes, including the dark side of human nature and the dangers of investigating the supernatural. It explores the idea that some truths are better left hidden and that meddling with forces beyond our understanding can have dire consequences. Overall, Noroi: The Curse is a chilling and haunting horror film that stands out due to its unique found footage style and atmospheric storytelling. **It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of delving into the paranormal and the potentially devastating consequences that can arise.** The film is praised for its ability to create a sense of dread and unease, leaving viewers with a lingering sense of unease long after the credits roll..

Reviews for "Revisit the Terrifying World of Noroi: The Curse on DVD"

1. John - 2/5 - I found "Noroi the Curse" to be incredibly slow-paced and confusing. The story seemed interesting at first, but it quickly became convoluted and hard to follow. The found footage style didn't add anything unique or atmospheric to the film, and the characters were underdeveloped and uninteresting. Overall, I was disappointed with the movie and wouldn't recommend it to others.

2. Sarah - 1/5 - "Noroi the Curse" was an absolute snooze-fest. The plot was all over the place, and I couldn't make heads or tails of what was going on half the time. The scares were predictable and lackluster, and the excessive use of jump scares became frustrating rather than terrifying. The film dragged on for what felt like an eternity, and I couldn't wait for it to end. Save yourself the boredom and skip this one.

3. Mike - 2/5 - I didn't understand the hype around "Noroi the Curse". The movie tried to be a found footage horror, but it failed at creating a sense of dread or fear. The story was confusing, and the characters were forgettable. The special effects looked cheap and amateurish, and the pacing was incredibly slow. Overall, I was underwhelmed by this film and would not recommend it to fellow horror fans.

4. Emily - 2/5 - "Noroi the Curse" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The documentary-style format became tiresome after a while, and the characters lacked depth. The plot felt disjointed, and it was difficult to connect the dots between the different events. The supposedly scary moments were not enough to salvage the overall experience, and I found myself bored and disinterested. If you're looking for a truly chilling horror film, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

Experience the Chilling Terror of Noroi: The Curse on DVD