CURSED

Strange occurrences begin plaguing a small provincial supermarket when Ryoko, a representative from a major retail chain, arrives to purchase the property and overhaul its inventory. From that moment on, mysterious malevolent forces descend upon the store and anyone who spends exactly 666 or 999 yen. It falls to Ryoko, with the help of young cashier Nao, to uncover the source of this horror. Eastern horror cinema has finally gained traction in our country in recent years, earning appreciation through its innovative style—initially a refreshing departure from recycled Western productions. We hoped to rely on Eastern horror, but our optimism was short-lived. Many imported films proved repetitive, rehashing the same plots, themes, and scenarios until they became indistinguishable clones of one another. Of course, this applies only to the limited selection of Eastern films that reach our shores. In the East, filmmakers do produce works that break the mold. Sometimes they create genuinely great films that showcase the artistry of Eastern cinema; other times, they produce something so outlandish it makes us long for those predictable ghost stories we've grown accustomed to. "Cursed" (originally "Chô kowai hanashi A: yami no karasu") could have been an unconventional example of Eastern horror, but unfortunately it belongs to that category of films so poorly executed they make you nostalgic for the usual long-haired women dispensing curses. The premise of "Cursed" initially seems intriguing, even captivating, sparking immediate curiosity—curiosity that goes entirely unrewarded due to the film's sheer awfulness. It's a poorly stitched-together mess of disconnected episodes bound by a flimsy frame. While Ryoko and Nao investigate the mystery's source, various vignettes depict unfortunate customers meeting gruesome ends at the supermarket. Beyond the botched narrative structure lies an oppressive pacing that actively avoids engaging viewers, inviting yawns from the opening minutes. The problems multiply: the acting is uniformly incompetent, the CGI alternates between crude 3D and hideous 2D effects, and character psychology is nonexistent, with performers delivering exaggerated, implausible, over-the-top behavior that veers into ridiculous and infuriating territory. A hallmark of Eastern horror has always been its ability to generate a distinctive, genuinely unsettling dread that actually frightens viewers. "Cursed" completely lacks this sensibility—it never builds tension, never conjures fear or genuine scares. What most disappoints is the technical execution. Abysmal cinematography, combined with digital flatness and poorly lit dark scenes, leaves viewers unable to discern what's happening onscreen. Adding insult to injury, the Italian DVD release features atrocious dubbing with unsuitable voices—more suited to manga cartoons than a horror film meant to terrify. Moreover, "Cursed" descends into shameless imitation, recycling wholesale from Western films: "Poltergeist" is particularly plundered, with nods to "American Beauty" and a prologue that parodies "Final Destination." In conclusion, "Cursed" stands among the worst Eastern horror films to reach our country—a film that fails to engage or excite, instead boring and frustrating viewers hoping for something decent. A complete failure. Not recommended even for devoted Eastern horror fans.