Cure

What is the definition of evil? What would people do if given permission to act on their darkest impulses? How can a difficult work-life balance affect even the strongest men? Cure poses potential replies to these questions through one of the most hair-raising thrillers I've had the pleasure of watching. Cure begins as a seemingly procedural murder mystery under bizarre circumstances, but quickly zooms out to reveal that these criminals may share a motive that could be considered paranormal. This motive is one of the few things that the accused do share. They are not the same age, gender, social status, or even know each other personally. There is one other quality that is universal for them though: an encounter with a strange man, and a killer instinct. This film's direction, editing, and sound design are the primary factors that aid in providing a chilling experience from start to end. There are moments like the long, drawn-out shots that allow the actors to flex their impeccable skills, that can suddenly and effortlessly cut to a fast-paced montage with hellish soundscapes that cause you to wonder if what you are seeing is real, or is just another effect of the antagonists hypnotization? Reality will become a question of when, not if, upon finishing this film. I can easily recommend Cure to any fans of American thrillers, as this is just as good if not better than that one that you love.