Notable Cast: Yui Natsukawa, Chiaki Kuriyama, Michitaka Tsutsui, Toshie
Negishi, Ren Osugi
While the J-Horror boom of the late 90s and early 00s
provided enough creep factor and impressive tonal scares to influence an entire
generation, one of its better aspects was the films that used the emotional
echoes of sadness and melancholy. Shunichi Nagasaki’s 1999 film, Shikoku,
might be one of those intriguingly overlooked gems. Encased in a somber tone,
this folk-horror ghost story effectively crafts a dreamlike haziness in its
visuals and narrative, less a scare factory and more akin to a grim-toned fairy
tale. While its narrative punch feels like it pulls back to avoid moving too
far into melodramatic flair, which doesn’t necessarily always work in its
favor, Shikoku is a film that deserves a gander for its subtle theming
and impressive visuals for those looking for perhaps a less aggressive J-Horror
tale.
When Hinako, played by Yui Natsukawa, returns to her
childhood home in Shikoku, she learns that her close friend from childhood,
Sayori, has passed away in high school. As old memories resurface and a
rekindled friendship with another childhood friend, Fumiya, begins to grow into
something more, Sayori’s ghost starts appearing to her old friend. However, as
Hinako starts to look into matters, she finds that Sayori’s mother, a medium,
might be trying to resurrect her lost daughter.