Cure

“Cure” is a fully engrossing often disturbing psychological neo-noir thriller coming from acclaimed director Kiyoshi Kurosawa in 1997. Following some of the crime thriller formula that was trending heavily at the time as will as providing some dark elements which could be considered supernatural, we are able to examine a complexly layered crime story with similar characters to pair.  The film as a whole could be explored endlessly with the possible connections the viewer will attempt to make long after the credits roll. We learn of a series of murders that begin to take place where the killer is continually found with no recollection of their actions therefor information is scarce. The two men heading much of the investigation are Takabe and Sakuma who serve as private detective and psychology professor respectively. Their dispositions are vastly different yet the film is able to establish this and their history without much verbal detail. This trend is consistent throughout the film as the viewer is required to do their own investigation. Some things are left remotely ambiguous which will have you clawing to make connections. The title “Cure” implies there is a looming disease at play. While yes a hypnotist killer could constitute this I also think this points to the subsequent obsession that forms from both Takabe and Sakuma. They both warn each other about not getting too close to the situation they can’t fully comprehend. This also can be connected to Takabe’s wife who he is taking medical care of to the best of his ability.  The most notable and easiest comparison would be “Se7en” by David Fincher. Both being a neo-noir crime thriller about a serial killers. Both films contain two protagonists leading the investigation who have differed outlooks and techniques. Both films were released in the mid to late 90s where these sort of dialogue driven crime films were having a brief renaissance. The film is slow burn of sorts which begins as a police thriller and morphs slowly into a grim psychological exploration of unsettling events. “Cure” utilizes some techniques which have came before it yet still creates a wholly unique experience. Many scenes are extremely quiet and just let the characters slowly move or talk cryptically throughout the scene creating unnerving tension. A definite atmosphere is created by Kurosawa to accompany this finely crafted and thought provoking film.