Warning: This article may contain spoilers from the film.
For twenty years, the Eigasai Japanese Film Festival has brought a myriad of acclaimed films into Philippine cinemas. This year, it returns with another stellar lineup of award-winning and noteworthy films — all ranging from unique yet factual documentaries to heart-wrenching animated movies.
And among these films is one unforgettable thriller you would not want to miss — Creepy.
Based on Maekawa Yutaka’s mystery novel of the same name, Creepy follows the life of retired detective turned criminal psychology professor, Takakura (Nishijima Hidetoshi) as he attempts to resolve a case from six years ago, while dealing with his wife, Yasuko‘s (Takeuchi Yuko) budding friendship with their suspicious-looking neighbor, Nishino (Teruyuki Kagawa).
Creepy is an intense yet engaging film that’ll have you glued to the screen and pondering the complexities of the human mind, from start to finish. And just to get you even more psyched for Creepy, here are a few reasons why you should go out and watch the film:
1.It was directed by film visionary, Kurosawa Kiyoshi.
Known for movies like Pulse and Cure, Kurosawa Kiyoshi is a known veteran in the Japanese film industry. His 2008 movie, Tokyo Sonata, earned him the Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival, while his 2013 film, Seventh Gold won him Best Director at the International Rome Festival.
With credentials like this under his belt, you can surely expect nothing but the best from the man deemed as Japan’s “horrormeister.”
2. The film has won a few awards.
According to IMDB, this film has won three awards, namely Best Cinematography, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.
In addition to these awards, Creepy has also been featured in countless film festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival, the New York Asian Film Festival and the Helsinki International Film Festival.
3. The film’s attention to detail was on-point.
Creepy proves that even the smallest detail can change the tone of the film’s storyline. For instance, when Saki Honda (Haruna Kawaguchi) talks about her muddled past to Takakura (Hidetoshi), the lights darken. But once she finishes her story, the scene brightens up again. This subtle change in atmosphere adds to the mood of the movie and allows viewers to better feel the emotions projected onscreen.
4. The cast portrayed their characters well.
Moviegoers can all agree that they’ve felt goosebumps every time Nishino (Kagawa) appeared onscreen and that they could sympathize with Yasuko’s (Yuko) bizarre and unfortunate situation. And that’s because the cast gave masterclass performances worthy of praise and awards. Kudos to the cast and crew for their amazing character portrayals!
5. It was a good blend of drama and suspense.
Some thrillers have the tendency to overdo their suspense scenes with over-the-top sound effects and unnecessary jump scares. But in Creepy, the suspense portions were seamlessly integrated with the film’s dramatic scenes. And this equal blend of genres allowed the movie’s story to shine through in the theater and solidified it as a must-watch thriller.
Be sure to catch Creepy during the 20th Eigasai Japanese Film Festival from July 1 to August 29, 2017 in selected cinemas! For more details, visit EigasaiPH.