J Horror Rising Limited Edition Blu-ray Review

4 stars, excellent and diverse collection of Japanese horror films.

Around the turn of the millenium, a wave of Japanese horror and mystery films were released which sparked enormous interest globally and became known as J Horror. This expertly curated box-set brings together a diverse collection of films from across the genre, offering a fascinating cross section of this period in horror film history.

It is available to own on Limited Edition Blu-ray box-set from Arrow Video from 28th October 2024, just in time for Halloween!

“You didn’t know, Hinako? Sayori…died. A long time ago now. In high school. She fell into the river.”

The first film is Shikoku, a 1999 atmospheric and creepy vengeful love triangle directed by Shunichi Nagasaki (The Enchantment). Hinako (Yui Natsukawa – Still Walking) grew up on the island of Shikoku with her best friends Fumiya (Michitaka Tsutsui – Swimming Upstream) and Sayori (Chiaki Kuriyama – Battle Royale, Kill Bill: Vol 1 and 2). She moves away with her parents, but on her return discovers that Sayori died as a teenager. Her mother (Toshie Negishi – Audition) is now completing “the pilgrimage”, visiting the 88 shrines of the island, but something is wrong. Can Hinako and Fumiya figure out what she is planning to do before it’s too late?

“Don’t tell me how to handle my own daughter. Or I’ll file a complaint.”

Next up is Isola: Multiple Personality Girl, a clever and disturbing horror tale released in 2000 and directed by Toshiyuki Mizutani (Hikinige Family). This tells us the story of Yukari Kamo (Yoshino Kimura – Confessions), a young psychic who comes to Kobe in the aftermath of the 1995 earthquake hoping to help out. Here, she stays with child psychologist Hiroko Nomura (Satomi Tezuka – Revolver) which is how she meets Chihiro (Yû Kurosawa – The Teacher). She is school girl with multiple personalities, one of which, Isola, turns out to be extremely dangerous.

“Dreams are neither good nor bad. They ooze up through the cracks at the bottom of your heart. They’re where your real self comes from.”

The third film in the collection is Inugami, a twisty and surprising 2001 horror/fantasy romantic thriller directed by Masato Harada (The Last Samurai). Akira Nutahara (Atsuro Watabe – The Flowers of War) is a young school teacher, who has moved to the island of Shikoku to take up a teaching position. On his way he meets the enigmatic paper maker Miki (Yûki Amami – Ponyo), with whom he is fascinated. She is part of the Bonomiya family, lead by  the aggressive Takanao (Kazuhiro Yamaji – The Boy and the Beast), who have something of a reputation with the locals for commanding dangerous forest spirits. Has he fallen for the wrong woman?

“Didn’t your mother die when you were born, Nami? Your father couldn’t have raised you alone. Who’s living in the place now?”

Film number four is St. John’s Wort, an innovative and striking piece of work, released in 2001 and directed by Ten Shimoyama (Alivehoon). It features video game style interactions and a very interesting use of colour. Nami (Megumi Okina – Ju-On: The Grudge, Shutter) is a young art student who has recently inherited a large mansion from her estranged father, who was an internationally renowned artist. Her ex boyfriend Kohei (Yôichirô Saitô – Futon) is a videogame designer and she agrees to help him with his next project, a horror game, using her mansion for ideas. But as they explore, dark secrets are revealed.

“When you’re caught, she takes you to her hideout, and cuts your mouth with scissors.”

Next up we have Carved: The Slit Mouthed Woman, a 2007 horror thriller directed by Kôji Shiraishi (Sayuri, Hell Girl). This is an unflinching and gruesome tale of child abuse and abduction, genuinely terrifying. Miss Yamashita (Eriko Satô – Kisaragi Station, Midnight Swan) has just started work in a school where all the children are talking about an urban legend, The Slit Mouthed Woman. But when her fellow teacher Mr. Matsuzaki (Haruhiko Katô – Pulse, Aiki) starts to hear her voice and she witnesses an abduction, they begin to suspect that the legend could be real.

“You have no right to mock the mask.”

Film number six is Persona, released in 2000 and directed by Takashi Komatsu (Kidan). It’s a deeply disturbing look at human nature and the devastating effects of bullying. At a local high school, a pupil named Danda turns up in a mask, having discovered it empowers him against his bullies. With bullying rife, the craze soon sweeps through the town, with even models and celebrities jumping on the bandwagon. With things getting out of hand, school girl Yuki (Maya Kurosu – Boogiepop and Others) and mask maker Akira (Tatsuya Fujiwara – Death Note) must try to work out who is behind it all.

“I want the truth. No matter how terrifying, I want the truth.”

Last but by no means least is the dark and deeply disturbing Noroi: The Curse, released in 2005 and also directed by Kôji Shiraishi (Carved: The Slit Mouthed Woman). It is a documentary style film, using found footage, mostly from missing supernatural investigator Masafumi Kobayashi (Jin Muraki – Retribution). His investigations lead him to a strange woman named Junko Ishii (Tomono Kuga – Hatsukoi), a young psychic girl named Kana (Rio Kanno – Dark Water), a psychic man named Mitsuo Hori (Satoru Jitsunashi – Scabbard Samurai) and an actress named Marika Matsumoto (herself). These are all somehow connected to a now submerged village and ancient rituals.

Vibrant and diverse, this is an excellent collection of films, offering a great cross section of the world of J horror in this period. The films are all very different, yet all have one thing in common, they’re all really good, well written and acted and compelling to watch. Packed with loads of special features and goodies (see below), this magnificent box set is sure to delight the J horror fan in your house. If you are yet to discover the genre, this would be a great way to start.

Thoroughly recommended and well worth adding to your collection.

J Horror is available on Limited Edition Blu-ray from 28th October 2024.

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all seven films
• Original lossless 5.1 and lossless stereo sound options for Shikoku, Isola: Multiple Personality Girl, Inugami, St. John’s Wort, Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman and Noroi: The Curse, and original lossless stereo audio for Persona
• Optional English subtitles for each film
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Eugene Thacker, Jasper Sharp, Anton Bitel, Amber T., Mark Player, Jim Harper and Sarah Appleton
• Double-sided foldout poster featuring newly commissioned artwork by John Conlon
• Limited Edition packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by John Conlon

DISC ONE: SHIKOKU / ISOLA: MULTIPLE PERSONALITY GIRL

• Brand new audio commentary on Shikoku by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes
• Brand new audio commentary on Isola: Multiple Personality Girl by critics and Japanese cinema experts Jasper Sharp and Amber T.
• The Aftermath, Tom Mes discusses J-Horror at the turn of the millennium
• Something in the Water, a brand new interview with Shikoku director Shunichi Nagasaki
• Archive interviews with director Shunichi Nagasaki and actors Chiaki Kuriyama and Yui Natsukawa on Shikoku
• Archive interview with actors Yoshino Kimura and Yu Kurosawa on Isola: Multiple Personality Girl
• On-set footage of the filming of Shikoku
• Original trailers and TV spots for both films
• Image galleries

DISC TWO: INUGAMI / ST. JOHN’S WORT

• Brand new audio commentary on Inugami by Japanese cinema expert Jonathan Clements
• Brand new audio commentary on St. John’s Wort by Japanese cinema expert Amber T.
• Dog Days, brand new video interview with Inugami director Masato Harada
• The Making of St. John’s Wort, archival featurette
• Archive interviews with St. John’s Wort actors Megumi Okina, Koichiro Saito, Reiko Matsuo and Koji Okura
• On-set behind-the-scenes footage of the filming of St. John’s Wort
• Original trailers and TV spots for St. John’s Wort
• Image galleries for both films

DISC THREE: CARVED: THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN / PERSONA

• Brand new audio commentary on Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman by Japanese folklore expert Zack Davisson
• Why So Serious?, a brand new interview with Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman director Koji Shiraishi
• Weapon of Choice, a brand new video essay on Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman by Japanese horror specialist Lindsay Nelson
• Confessions of a Mask, a brand new interview with Persona director Takashi Komatsu
• Image galleries for both films

DISC FOUR: NOROI: THE CURSE

• Brand new audio commentary by film critic Julian Singleton
• Director’s POV, a brand new video interview with Noroi: The Curse director Koji Shiraishi
• The Man in the Shadows, a brand new interview with Noroi: The Curse producer Taka Ichise
• Changing Perspective, a brand new video essay on Noroi: The Curse by Japanese horror specialist Lindsay Nelson
• Ectoplasmic Worms, a brand new video essay on Noroi: The Curse and Japanese cosmic horror by Japanese cinema expert Amber T.
• How to Protect Yourself Against Curses
• Urgent report! Pursuing the Truth about Kagutaba!! TV Special
• Over half an hour of deleted scenes
• Trailers and TV spots
• Image gallery