Cure

"All the things that used to be inside of me... now they are all outside." This is probably the most haunting film I've seen in a year. Martin Scorsese once called this a 'most terrifying movie' indeed, and Bong Joon-ho has cited Cure as one of the greatest films ever made and has been a massive influence on his career. ​He has been 'cured' and starts curing everyone he meets; he is the contagion itself. Obsession, freedom, and despair collide in this film. Kenichi Takabe is an exhausted detective who is struggling physically and mentally while dealing with an amnesiac and curious person, Kunio Mamiya. Mamiya is always wondering about the feelings of those he speaks to, asking them why they do not feel rage or madness. ​He is a vessel for the devil, awakened by the cruelty of the world to become a menace to society. These are not planned murders; anyone could be a victim or be 'released.' Is it a devil or an angel? I can’t tell. For a moment after the ending was revealed, I couldn’t believe my eyes; my mind was in denial even though the film clearly answered every question I had. ​The film follows a tired and melancholy detective, Kenichi Takabe, who is assigned to an unsolvable case. Engaged with Fumie Takabe, his life feels miserable even at home. Fumie has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and dementia; she cannot even go outside, and she doesn't even remember what yesterday was. Kenichi faces hard times both at work and at home; he cannot sleep at night and dreams with his eyes wide open. ​Kiyoshi Kurosawa treats Cure with his signature touch: it is gloomy, pale, dark, and foggy. The visuals created a 'brain fog' for me throughout the entire film. Cure is not just a crime and detective film; it is about mental health, what goes on in your mind, what bothers you, and what you have been hiding. The 'savior' himself, disguised as a person, lets it all out and forces you to face your inner existence. ​The connection between Memories of Murder (2003) and Cure (1997) is significant; they share similarities in their depictions of serial murder, criminal investigation, dark society, and obsession. While Memories of Murder focuses more on the insincerity and indifference of the police, this film focuses more on suspects who share a common condition (amnesia). Both films share similarities in the distinctive marks left on the corpses; clearly, Memories of Murder was influenced by this film. A big round of applause for the 'GOAT' maestro of horror, Kiyoshi Kurosawa."