Noroi: The Curse is a Japanese found footage horror film directed by Koji Shiraishi. The film revolves around a documentary filmmaker named Masafumi Kobayashi who disappears while investigating the legend of a cursed woman named "Kagutaba". The story unfolds through the documentary footage left behind by Kobayashi, as well as interviews with people involved in the case. The trailer for Noroi: The Curse is a chilling preview of the eerie and unsettling events that unfold in the film. The trailer begins with a series of photographs and articles related to mysterious disappearances and supernatural phenomena. The haunting background music sets the tone for the suspense and horror that follows.
Some aspects of the chilling ending tie in really nicely to the demon lore and bits of information we’ve been fed through the movie but I still have a LOT of questions.
He discovers that Ishii has kidnapped the young psychic Kana to use her in an ancient ritual, where a medium is fed aborted fetuses in place of dead monkeys, all to resurrect Kagutaba he sees a vision of this ritual at a shrine in the woods. He discovers that Ishii has kidnapped the young psychic Kana to use her in an ancient ritual, where a medium is fed aborted fetuses in place of dead monkeys, all to resurrect Kagutaba he sees a vision of this ritual at a shrine in the woods.
The haunting background music sets the tone for the suspense and horror that follows. The trailer then introduces us to the protagonist, Masafumi Kobayashi, who is seen interviewing people about the curse of Kagutaba. As the interviews progress, we witness strange occurrences and unexplained phenomena, further fueling the sense of unease and dread.
Questions about the ending of Noroi: The Curse (2005) [Spoilers]
I just rewatched Noroi after first seeing it years ago. I really enjoy the film, very atmospheric with a cool lore. Would recommend. But I definitely have some trouble piecing together exactly what happened at the end. Curious to hear any theories that could tie everything together!
So as far as I can gather:
Kobayashi the documentarian discovers that the mysterious Junko Ishii was, years ago used in a ritual to pacify the demon Kagutaba. However the ritual went wrong and Ishii ended up seemingly in a possessed state. After that, the village was abandoned and turned into a dam.
Afterwards. Ishii led a seemingly normal life but at some point started moving around with a young boy in tow. Usually in places where they’d been, characters start committing suicide, tying knots, getting into accidents etc.
He discovers that Ishii has kidnapped the young psychic Kana to use her in an ancient ritual, where a medium is fed aborted fetuses in place of dead monkeys, all to resurrect Kagutaba (he sees a vision of this ritual at a shrine in the woods.) On entering Ishii’s house, he finds she has hung herself. Kana is there but dead next to the young boy.
In the end, the super psychic Hori realizes that the boy is actually Kagutaba. For a brief moment, we see the demonic face of Kagutaba before Hori becomes possessed and takes the boy away. We also see Kana appear briefly behind Kagutaba before she too disappears. Kobayashi’s wife immolates herself and he disappears as the house burns.
Some aspects of the chilling ending tie in really nicely to the demon lore and bits of information we’ve been fed through the movie but I still have a LOT of questions.
- What exactly was the boy before Ishii performed the ancient ritual? Did the ritual put Kagutaba into the boy or just awaken the dormant demon inside the boy? Did the boy have a biological mother before he was possessed or is he just the physical form of Kagutaba?
- What exactly happened to the actress Marika? She visited a shrine early on and then became cursed/possessed with her neighbor killing herself. She experienced possessions up until she runs in the woods and then suddenly she’s fine and in the end, seemingly the curse is gone from her. What happened and what connection did Marika have to Ishii’s plan?
- What happened to the woman that Kobayashi interviewed who had a sickle above her door? She started answering questions about Ishii and then became creepily silent and just walked away.
- Why did Kana appear behind Kagutaba at the end? She was used as a medium in the ritual but I have no idea why she showed up in the final scene right after we see the demons face. Was she connected to Hori becoming possessed a moment later?
Okay I’ll stop there. I’m sure a lot of aspects are meant to be vague or abstract without clear explanations, still thought it could be fun to speculate! There’s very little written about Noroi online, so I’d love to read some theories about what exactly happened.
Mysterious sounds, eerie imagery, and unsettling testimonies build up the tension throughout the trailer. The trailer also showcases snippets of the documentary footage captured by Kobayashi before his disappearance. These snippets include disturbing scenes of supernatural occurrences, such as an exorcism ritual and a possessed woman. The found footage style adds an air of authenticity to the film, making it feel all the more unsettling. As the trailer nears its end, the eerie atmosphere intensifies, and glimpses of the cursed woman, Kagutaba, are shown. The foreboding music reaches its climax, leaving viewers on the edge of their seat. The trailer concludes with the tagline "Once you've seen it, you'll be cursed", leaving an intriguing impression and enticing the viewers to watch the film to uncover the secrets lurking within. Overall, the trailer for Noroi: The Curse effectively captures the essence of the film and creates anticipation for the terrifying and captivating story that unfolds. Its use of found footage, haunting imagery, and chilling music helps to create a sense of fear and suspense, making it an enticing watch for horror enthusiasts..
Reviews for "Noroi the Curse: A Haunting Journey into the Unknown - Trailer Review"
- John - 1/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the trailer for "Noroi the Curse". I found it confusing and lacking any clear plot or direction. The jumbled scenes and quick cuts made it difficult to comprehend what was actually happening. The spooky atmosphere was not effectively captured and instead, it just felt like a mishmash of random scenes. Overall, the trailer failed to grab my attention or create any excitement for the movie.
- Sarah - 2/5 stars - As a fan of horror films, I was hoping for something intriguing and scary in the trailer for "Noroi the Curse", but unfortunately, I was left feeling underwhelmed. The trailer lacked suspense and failed to showcase any truly frightening moments. The pacing felt off, and it seemed like the story was all over the place. I couldn't connect with the characters or get a sense of what the movie was truly about. Overall, the trailer didn't live up to my expectations and left me uninspired to watch the film.
- Mike - 2/5 stars - I didn't find the trailer for "Noroi the Curse" to be captivating or engaging. It felt like a typical found-footage horror film with nothing particularly unique to offer. The jump scares were predictable, and the scenes seemed disjointed and poorly edited. The storyline didn't grab my attention, and I found it difficult to understand what the movie was trying to convey. Overall, the trailer failed to impress me and left me uninterested in watching the actual film.
- Emily - 1/5 stars - I must say the trailer for "Noroi the Curse" was extremely disappointing. It lacked any originality and felt like a cliché horror movie. The jump scares were cheap and didn't evoke any genuine fear or suspense. The shaky camera work became irritating rather than adding to the handheld feel. Overall, the trailer felt like a compilation of horror movie tropes without any substance or creativity. I won't be wasting my time to watch this film based on the lackluster trailer.