Kairo (2001, JAP) C-119m. *** D: Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Starring Haruhiko Katô, Kumiko Aso, Koyuki, Kurume Arisaka, Masatoshi Matsuo. Fascinating tour-de-force from Japan's master of creep Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Student Katô learns of mysterious website that shows (live?) webcam streams of ghosts and promises an encounter. People around him start behaving oddly, others commit suicide. What's behind it all? Deliberate pace and overall vagueness make this a headtrip (and definitely not for all tastes), but Kurosawa transcends horror conventions and comes up with a philosophical ghost story like you have never seen before. Good score by Takshi Haketa. Remade as PULSE (2006). Also known as PULSE, THE CIRCUIT.


© Ron Altman