CURE

(Japan 1997)

Original Title: Kyua キュア

Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa Produced by Junyuki Shimoba, Tsutomu Tsuchikawa Starring: Koji Yakusho, Masato Hagiwara, Tsuyoshi Ujiki, Anna Nakagawa, Yoriko Doguchi, Yukijiro Hotaru Reviewing: Eureka Video 4K UHD Blu-ray Release Genres: Horror / Thriller / Crime

Rating: 5 / 5

Eureka Video 4K UHD Synopsis: A landmark in the history of Japanese cinema, Cure was the breakthrough for director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who would go on to make several masterpieces in Pulse, Creepy and Tokyo Sonata. Released to critical acclaim in both the East and West, this nerve-shredding thriller charts the hunt for a depraved killer in a bleak and decaying Tokyo. A series of murders have been committed by ordinary people who claim to have no control over their actions, many of them having killed friends, co-workers or even their spouse. There are only two links between each crime:an X carved into the neck of each victim, and a mysterious stranger who seems to have had brief contact with the perpetrator a short period of time before each killing. But to follow these leads and end a seemingly inexplicable wave of terror, police detective Kenichi Takabe (Koji Yakusho, 13 Assassins) will need to put his own sanity on the line and endure a descent into hell. Described as one of the greatest films of all time by Bong Joon-ho, the filmmaker behind Memories of Murder, The Host, Snowpiercer and Parasite, Cure is a cerebral and deeply unsettling hybrid of police procedural, serial killer film and horror movie to stand with The Silence of the Lambs and Seven. Having given the film its UK Blu-ray premiere in 2018, the Masters of Cinema series is now proud to present the film on 4K UHD. (111 Mins)

Views: Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa's mesmerising and chilling 1997 horror-thriller Cure, is a film that unnerves today as much as it did upon release almost 3 decades ago. Recently restored and released on 4K UHD by Eureka Video, the story follows a troubled detective who is investigating a string of gruesome murders throughout the city, where each of the victims have been found with an X carved in their necks. Oddly, the murderer of each one is found just nearby or with the victim, confused about what they just did but cannot remember why. Now, Detective Takabe must connect the dots before it's too late while trying to keep his own life together, and put a stop to the mysterious and brutal killings once and for all...

The first Kiyoshi Kurosawa film I had ever seen was Pulse from 2001 followed by his earlier work, Sweet Home from 1989, albeit sometime later – both of which made their own impact on me in regard to the talents of this horror director. But it's only with the new Eureka 4K release of Cure that I am getting round to seeing this incredible piece (having missed their initial Blu-ray release just a couple of years previous). And what an experience it was, not to mention a stunning restoration also. While the film itself has a simple enough, not to mention slow-burning, story, Kurosawa delivers it in such a way that keeps you glued to the screen and quite often, on the edge of your seat. Without revealing too much on screen, Kiyoshi allows viewers to use their own imagination to try and figure things out while gently guiding us through the killings and the mental torture of Detective Takabe. His subtle yet clever direction is accompanied by some stunning cinematography that helps elevate your viewing pleasure – while at the same time, playing with your mind and leaving you feeling slightly uneasy at the realistic approach and story. It is, in essence, a masterpiece to some degree. Needless to say, I will be investing in more titles from him with over 60 directorial efforts to his name including his latest psychological thriller, Cloud, which carries a lot of similarities to Cure with Kurosawa's signature style, atmospheric tension, and striking visuals.

Here in Cure, the captivating and haunting visuals are thanks to cinematographer Tokusho Kikumura, a lensman who had been working the scene for a good seven years prior – although mostly on many titles belonging to the pink cinema genre, as well as Kurosawa's very own Yakuza Taxi (1994) and Suit Yourself Or Shoot Yourself: The Heist (1995). But his work in Cure is perhaps some of his most memorable and engaging, almost becoming as important to the film than the actors themselves, and highlighting him as the man with an eye that would see him go on to work for director Hideo Nakata on Chaos (2000), Takashi Shimizu on Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) and it's sequel, Renpei Tsukamoto's One Missed Call Part 2 (2005), Kiyoshi Yamamoto's horror film Mizuchi (2006), and others such as Happy Dining Table (2007), Apartment 1303 (2007), Death Note: L Change The World (2008), Flower & Sword (2017), and many others.

While everyone involved does a fantastic job in their performances, it's only fair to say that the main focus is on two main characters – Detective Takabe, played by the fantastic Koji Yakusho, and supposed killer Kunio Mamiya, played wonderfully by Masato Hagiwara. Born as Koji Hashimoto, the prolific star took on the name of Yakusho after he began acting. Throughout his career, which began in television, Koji went onto impress in films such as Tampopo (1985), The Eel (1997), Lost Paradise (1997), Shall We Dance (1996) – which was such a big hit that it inspired a ballroom dance craze across the country – later going on to be remade in Hollywood. Later he would star in 13 Assassins (2010), The Third Murder (2017), The Blood Of Wolves (2018), and again for Kiyoshi Kurosawa in Pulse in 2001. In Cure, Yakusho delivers one of his finest and most memorable performances ever as Detective Takabe and is as gripping to watch as the madman he is after. As the evil and psychologically disturbed Mamiya, co-star Masato Hagiwara holds your attention and, while not as physically threatening as one would imagine a serial killer to be, still makes you feel unnerved with the realism he brings to the role. Prior to this, Masato had starred in a number of films and TV shows, but there's no doubt at all that Cure sent his career flying, going onto star in over 140 titles to date through a mix of film, television and anime productions.

While some believe it to be inspired by the cult-led Sarin gas attacks in the Tokyo Subway in 1997, this horrendous event in fact happened while the film was in production. This act of violence saw the productions' name change from Evangelist to Cure to avoid suggesting that a religious cult was indeed connected to the crimes in the story. Regardless, upon it's release, Cure went onto received very positive reviews and praise from critics at the time, with many hailing it as the trigger for the hugely popular J-horror craze that quickly followed soon after with films such as Ringu (1998), Ju On: The Grudge (2002), Uzumaki (2000), Dark Water (2002), Audition (1999) and others. In fact, Oscar winning South Korean director Bong Joon Ho hails Cure as one of the greatest films of all time and lists it in his top ten favourites, while Martin Scorsese called it Kurosawa's most terrifying movie. And it's easy to see why!

Overall: Delivered as the perfect depiction of madness, Cure is beautifully shot, wonderfully directed and brilliantly acted, leaving you both in awe and on-edge with it's all-to-realistic and gripping storyline!

Eureka Video 4K UHD Extras: 4K Restoration, Interview with Bong Joon-ho, Video Essay by Tom Mes, Archival Interviews with director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Kim Newman on Cure, Trailers & TV Spot

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