Cure

99/100 There is this really bleak atmosphere that is shared between Cure and Kurosawa’s Pulse that really traps the viewer in a sort of claustrophobic gaze as they watch the tragic, usually traumatizing events play out on screen. It is something that really fascinates me about Kurosawa’s style. His focus in filmmaking always seems to be centered around atmosphere, tension, and emotion.  I’m sure that sounds generic as it can be argued that these are the three fundamentals in good filmmaking, but you, as the viewer get the sense that Kurosawa is able to blend these elements with his screenwriting and filmmaking second to none. Every scene in this movie obviously is implemented to aid in adding upon one of these elements and as all of these scenes come together you get this symphony of dread and despair. He encapsulates a sense of very atmospheric writing that I think produces some of the best horror. It isn’t scary per se but more so tense. It focuses on emotion. It showcases characters being scared, battered, and bruised and wants to emulate that onto the viewer. It hurts to watch. This movie cries out to you and there is nothing you can do as a viewer other than try and process what is going on. Tsuyoshi Ujiki and Koji Yakusho are equally phenomenal in this film. Such a unique story is handled incredibly well through these two and they serve to deliver that sense of paranoia and uneasiness to the viewer as the story begins to unfold. Kurosawa is patient with this one. Allowing everything to come together and add to the viewer’s distress. This movie helped me come to a realization about Kurosawa’s filmmaking that I think is really important.You’re not going to feel scared.  You’re going to feel burdened, overwhelmed, and traumatized as you try and process everything that Kurosawa constantly will throw at you.