A « masterpiece » psychological horror thriller film with a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score is hailed by fans for its « perfect » ending. Cure (1997) is set in Tokyo and follows Detective Takabe (played Koji Yakusho) as he investigates a string of uncannily similar murders, each carried out by a different person.
But it’s far from a conventional crime drama, with The Criterion Collection describing as awash in « hushed, hypnotic dread », a « tour de force of psychological tension and a hallucinatory journey into the darkest recesses of the human mind ». The film was directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa and is held up as a classic of Japanese cinema.
One fan on Rotten Tomatoes wrote called it an « eerie, spine chilling experience with a ending that’s perfect in every aspect ».
A third called the film « atmospheric » and « mesmerising ». « The true genius of this film is that it serves to sort of hypnotise its audience.
« It puts you in a trance with its surreal imagery and mysterious plot. I love Kōji Yakusho in this film. He gave a tremendous performance.
« I love the ambiguous ending as well. Cure is my kind of film. A true masterpiece in Japanese cinema. I highly recommend », they added.
A fourth called it haunting and compared it to the 1995 crime/horror film Seven, starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman.
But they added that Cure is « somewhat more disturbing because it doesn’t offer any easy answers, but rather raises several interesting questions ».
« Ones that leave you thinking long after the credits roll. »
It’s Certified Fresh on the review aggregator website, with a 94% Tomatometer score (reflecting the percentage of approved critics who have given it a positive review).
However, the film has a fifteen certificate and contains some upsetting themes, including violence, suicide, and mental distress, so may not be for everyone.
Cure is available to stream on The Criterion Channel now.
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