If grief doesn’t exist in the absence of love, what would you call the all-consuming color of the room that Oko creates his hellish masterpieces in? Does the crimson hue that bathes the grieving truly give them a sinister shot at reuniting with what they’ve lost, or does it exploit the crippling emptiness they’ve been left with? Keishi Kondo’s wickedly spiritual body horror, New Religion, is, in its very essence, a terrifying symbol of isolation, immeasurable pain, and the ghost of loss.
Spoilers Ahead
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In ‘New Religion’?
Echoes of a crumbling economy and a dreadful scarcity of employment have consumed the state, this is what serves as the active backdrop for Miyabi’s crisis. In a matter of seconds, Miyabi being immersed in Virginia Woolf’s words has cost her the only color in her life. It’s one thing to lose...
Spoilers Ahead
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In ‘New Religion’?
Echoes of a crumbling economy and a dreadful scarcity of employment have consumed the state, this is what serves as the active backdrop for Miyabi’s crisis. In a matter of seconds, Miyabi being immersed in Virginia Woolf’s words has cost her the only color in her life. It’s one thing to lose...
- 6/27/2023
- by Lopamudra Mukherjee
- Film Fugitives
New Religion, the new film by Keishi Kondo, is an audacious venture trying to merge the genres of horror, fantasy, and science fiction together. With eerie silence haunting the characters and nightmarish cinematography that would make David Lynch proud, the film emerges as a cryptic treatise on the degradation of society and the immense suffering that plagues the human condition.
The plot of the film revolves around Miyabi, who loses her daughter in a bizarre accident and subsequently gets divorced from her husband. Working as a call girl, she now lives with her boyfriend, who seems supportive and accepting of her past. Strange events arise when one of her fellow workers, Akari, gets in touch with a client who is obsessed with photography and is possibly rearing humans that are in a state of war against all social institutions. Let’s explore the characters of this uncanny film:
Spoilers Ahead...
The plot of the film revolves around Miyabi, who loses her daughter in a bizarre accident and subsequently gets divorced from her husband. Working as a call girl, she now lives with her boyfriend, who seems supportive and accepting of her past. Strange events arise when one of her fellow workers, Akari, gets in touch with a client who is obsessed with photography and is possibly rearing humans that are in a state of war against all social institutions. Let’s explore the characters of this uncanny film:
Spoilers Ahead...
- 6/24/2023
- by Ayush Awasthi
- Film Fugitives
The Chattanooga Film Festival 2023 returns in person and virtually for its tenth year, kicking off today, June 23 through 29! The beloved festival will return to an in-person event for the first time since 2019, from June 23 through 25, while offering a virtual experience from June 23 through 29.
The main venue for those attending in person will be Chattanooga’s historical and legendary haunted The Read House Hotel. The hotel’s 1920s beauty and the tale of Room 311, with resident ghost Annalisa, make it the perfect spooky backdrop for the festival’s 10th Anniversary. The festival will also have various locations around the city. So whether you’re attending from the comfort of your couch or getting spooked by Annalisa, it’s a great weekend ahead for horror fans. And an even greater weekend for Screambox titles, kicking off with the opening night film and party for Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls.
The main venue for those attending in person will be Chattanooga’s historical and legendary haunted The Read House Hotel. The hotel’s 1920s beauty and the tale of Room 311, with resident ghost Annalisa, make it the perfect spooky backdrop for the festival’s 10th Anniversary. The festival will also have various locations around the city. So whether you’re attending from the comfort of your couch or getting spooked by Annalisa, it’s a great weekend ahead for horror fans. And an even greater weekend for Screambox titles, kicking off with the opening night film and party for Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls.
- 6/23/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Fans of David Cronenberg and body horror get ready for the stunning sci-fi horror New Religion, now streaming on the Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox!
New Religion is a Japanese surrealist body horror film written and directed by Keishi Kondo.
In the film, “After her daughter’s death, divorced Miyabi begins working as a call girl. One day, she meets an unsettling customer who wants to take pictures of her body parts. Soon, she realizes that every time she allows her body to be photographed her daughter’s spirit gets closer. She must decide how far she is willing to go to connect with her daughter once again.”
New Religion stars Kaho Seto, Daiki Nunami, Satoshi Oka and Saionji Ryuseigun.
The film had its North American premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival and was nominated for Best Narrative Feature. It previously screened at festivals around the world to rave reviews with Horror...
New Religion is a Japanese surrealist body horror film written and directed by Keishi Kondo.
In the film, “After her daughter’s death, divorced Miyabi begins working as a call girl. One day, she meets an unsettling customer who wants to take pictures of her body parts. Soon, she realizes that every time she allows her body to be photographed her daughter’s spirit gets closer. She must decide how far she is willing to go to connect with her daughter once again.”
New Religion stars Kaho Seto, Daiki Nunami, Satoshi Oka and Saionji Ryuseigun.
The film had its North American premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival and was nominated for Best Narrative Feature. It previously screened at festivals around the world to rave reviews with Horror...
- 6/20/2023
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
This week marks the official start of Summer 2023, and the horror genre is celebrating with four brand new movies that are releasing both in theaters and at home throughout the week.
Here’s all the new horror releasing June 20 – June 25, 2023!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
First up, Japanese surrealist horror film New Religion is now streaming exclusively on Screambox beginning today, written and directed by Keishi Kondo.
In the film, “After her daughter’s death, divorced Miyabi begins working as a call girl. One day, she meets an unsettling customer who wants to take pictures of her body parts. Soon, she realizes that every time she allows her body to be photographed her daughter’s spirit gets closer. She must decide how far she is willing to go to connect with her daughter once again.”
New Religion stars Kaho Seto, Daiki Nunami, Satoshi Oka and Saionji Ryuseigun.
Here’s all the new horror releasing June 20 – June 25, 2023!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
First up, Japanese surrealist horror film New Religion is now streaming exclusively on Screambox beginning today, written and directed by Keishi Kondo.
In the film, “After her daughter’s death, divorced Miyabi begins working as a call girl. One day, she meets an unsettling customer who wants to take pictures of her body parts. Soon, she realizes that every time she allows her body to be photographed her daughter’s spirit gets closer. She must decide how far she is willing to go to connect with her daughter once again.”
New Religion stars Kaho Seto, Daiki Nunami, Satoshi Oka and Saionji Ryuseigun.
- 6/20/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Fans of David Cronenberg and body horror get ready for the stunning sci-fi horror New Religion, streaming next Tuesday, June 20, only on Screambox!
New Religion is a Japanese surrealist body horror film written and directed by Keishi Kondo.
In the film, “After her daughter’s death, divorced Miyabi begins working as a call girl. One day, she meets an unsettling customer who wants to take pictures of her body parts. Soon, she realizes that every time she allows her body to be photographed her daughter’s spirit gets closer. She must decide how far she is willing to go to connect with her daughter once again.”
New Religion stars Kaho Seto, Daiki Nunami, Satoshi Oka and Saionji Ryuseigun.
The film had its North American premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival and was nominated for Best Narrative Feature. It previously screened at festivals around the world to rave reviews with Horror...
New Religion is a Japanese surrealist body horror film written and directed by Keishi Kondo.
In the film, “After her daughter’s death, divorced Miyabi begins working as a call girl. One day, she meets an unsettling customer who wants to take pictures of her body parts. Soon, she realizes that every time she allows her body to be photographed her daughter’s spirit gets closer. She must decide how far she is willing to go to connect with her daughter once again.”
New Religion stars Kaho Seto, Daiki Nunami, Satoshi Oka and Saionji Ryuseigun.
The film had its North American premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival and was nominated for Best Narrative Feature. It previously screened at festivals around the world to rave reviews with Horror...
- 6/16/2023
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
Welcome to June, a hefty month for horror on streaming. As we rapidly approach the halfway point of 2023, this month’s new additions to various streaming platforms lean heavily on recent releases. That means an extra packed month, giving you plenty of time to catch up on many of 2022 and 2023’s biggest releases.
Here are thirteen noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in June 2023 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.
Baby Ruby – Hulu (June 3)
Writer/Director Bess Wohl’s debut feature, Baby Ruby, uses psychological horror to put viewers in the shoes of a new mother unraveling after giving birth. Jo (Jumbo’s Noémie Merlant) exudes style and perfection. She’s an influencer with a blog so successful that she has a staff, including a close assistant. But her carefully curated idyllic life unravels when newborn Ruby enters the world.
Here are thirteen noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in June 2023 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.
Baby Ruby – Hulu (June 3)
Writer/Director Bess Wohl’s debut feature, Baby Ruby, uses psychological horror to put viewers in the shoes of a new mother unraveling after giving birth. Jo (Jumbo’s Noémie Merlant) exudes style and perfection. She’s an influencer with a blog so successful that she has a staff, including a close assistant. But her carefully curated idyllic life unravels when newborn Ruby enters the world.
- 6/2/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Are you ready for a Summer of Screams?
Our Summer 2023 Horror Preview is here! The 2023 slate of horror releases looks packed. Tentpole titles like The Boogeyman, Insidious: The Red Door, Talk to Me, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, and more aim to set the box office ablaze. And that’s all nothing compared to the volume of genre offerings heading to streaming, Digital, and VOD.
There’s enough horror here to keep us busy until the Halloween season. It’s a densely packed slate this summer, and trust us: this is only the tip of the iceberg for what’s ahead.
Here’s what is coming soon to help you prepare!
The Ancestral – May 2 (Screambox)
This haunter hails from the director of Furie and The Princess, Le-Van Kiet. And it’s Now Streaming on Screambox.
In the film, “After suffering a family tragedy, a widower moves his two daughters to a centuries-old ancestral home.
Our Summer 2023 Horror Preview is here! The 2023 slate of horror releases looks packed. Tentpole titles like The Boogeyman, Insidious: The Red Door, Talk to Me, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, and more aim to set the box office ablaze. And that’s all nothing compared to the volume of genre offerings heading to streaming, Digital, and VOD.
There’s enough horror here to keep us busy until the Halloween season. It’s a densely packed slate this summer, and trust us: this is only the tip of the iceberg for what’s ahead.
Here’s what is coming soon to help you prepare!
The Ancestral – May 2 (Screambox)
This haunter hails from the director of Furie and The Princess, Le-Van Kiet. And it’s Now Streaming on Screambox.
In the film, “After suffering a family tragedy, a widower moves his two daughters to a centuries-old ancestral home.
- 5/5/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Chattanooga Film Festival is celebrating its 10th year with an impressive in-person and virtual lineup that includes world premieres, special events, and the latest and greatest in genre cinema. Taking place from June 23 - 29, we have a breakdown on everything that has been announced:
Press Release: Chattanooga, Tenn - The Chattanooga Film Festival (Cff) will make its long awaited return this summer from June 23 - 29. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, after being named one of “The 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine, the festival will return to the ground June 23 - 25, while still offering a virtual experience from June 23 - 29.
While the festival will have various locations around the city, the main venue will be Chattanooga’s historic and legendary haunted The Read House Hotel. The hotel’s 1920’s beauty and the tale of Room 311, with resident ghost Annalisa, makes it the perfect backdrop for the festival’s 10th Anniversary.
Press Release: Chattanooga, Tenn - The Chattanooga Film Festival (Cff) will make its long awaited return this summer from June 23 - 29. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, after being named one of “The 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine, the festival will return to the ground June 23 - 25, while still offering a virtual experience from June 23 - 29.
While the festival will have various locations around the city, the main venue will be Chattanooga’s historic and legendary haunted The Read House Hotel. The hotel’s 1920’s beauty and the tale of Room 311, with resident ghost Annalisa, makes it the perfect backdrop for the festival’s 10th Anniversary.
- 4/11/2023
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
The Chattanooga Film Festival 2023 returns in person and virtually for its tenth year, taking place June 23 through 29! The beloved festival will return to an in person event for the first time since 2019, from June 23 through 25, while still offering a virtual experience from June 23 through 29.
For those attending in person, the main venue will be Chattanooga’s historic and legendary haunted The Read House Hotel. The hotel’s 1920’s beauty and the tale of Room 311, with resident ghost Annalisa, makes it the perfect spooky backdrop for the festival’s 10th Anniversary. The festival will also have various locations around the city.
As for what to expect this year, the Chattanooga Film Festival has unveiled it’s first wave of programming, including their opening feature: Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls. The film is based on director Andrew Bowser’s viral character Onyx, who has racked up over 300 million plus views online.
For those attending in person, the main venue will be Chattanooga’s historic and legendary haunted The Read House Hotel. The hotel’s 1920’s beauty and the tale of Room 311, with resident ghost Annalisa, makes it the perfect spooky backdrop for the festival’s 10th Anniversary. The festival will also have various locations around the city.
As for what to expect this year, the Chattanooga Film Festival has unveiled it’s first wave of programming, including their opening feature: Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls. The film is based on director Andrew Bowser’s viral character Onyx, who has racked up over 300 million plus views online.
- 4/11/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Fans of David Cronenberg and body horror get ready for the stunning sci-fi horror New Religion, acquired today by Cinedigm out of the Slamdance Film Festival.
Cinedigm plans to release New Religion on its horror streaming platform, Screambox, which is powered by Bloody Disgusting, later this year as a Screambox Original.
New Religion is a Japanese surrealist body horror film written and directed by Keishi Kondo.
In the film, “After her daughter’s death, divorced Miyabi begins working as a call girl. One day, she meets an unsettling customer who wants to take pictures of her body parts. Soon, she realizes that every time she allows her body to be photographed her daughter’s spirit gets closer. She must decide how far she is willing to go to connect with her daughter once again.”
New Religion stars Kaho Seto, Daiki Nunami, Satoshi Oka and Saionji Ryuseigun.
The film had its...
Cinedigm plans to release New Religion on its horror streaming platform, Screambox, which is powered by Bloody Disgusting, later this year as a Screambox Original.
New Religion is a Japanese surrealist body horror film written and directed by Keishi Kondo.
In the film, “After her daughter’s death, divorced Miyabi begins working as a call girl. One day, she meets an unsettling customer who wants to take pictures of her body parts. Soon, she realizes that every time she allows her body to be photographed her daughter’s spirit gets closer. She must decide how far she is willing to go to connect with her daughter once again.”
New Religion stars Kaho Seto, Daiki Nunami, Satoshi Oka and Saionji Ryuseigun.
The film had its...
- 4/5/2023
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
Osaka Asian Film Festival 2023 (Oaff 2023) held its Special Opening Ceremony today, March 15, with stage greetings featuring filmmakers attending the festival and the World Premiere of the Hong Kong film “Over My Dead Body” (死屍死時四十四).
Oaff 2023 started on March 10, but “Over My Dead Body” was the first title to play at the festival's main venue of ABC Hall. Taking place at ABC Hall, the special event marked the first time since Oaff 2020, and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, that the festival was able to host guests for Q&As and more. Waiting to meet them was a full audience made up of enthusiastic filmgoers who welcomed an array of stars drawn from 16 films from Japan and abroad.
Among their number were
Hong Kong
“Over My Dead Body”
Director Ho Cheuk Tin (Competition Jury) and Actor Wong You Nam
“Hong Kong Family”
Director Tsang Hing Weng Eric
“Lost Love”
Director Ka Sing Fung...
Oaff 2023 started on March 10, but “Over My Dead Body” was the first title to play at the festival's main venue of ABC Hall. Taking place at ABC Hall, the special event marked the first time since Oaff 2020, and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, that the festival was able to host guests for Q&As and more. Waiting to meet them was a full audience made up of enthusiastic filmgoers who welcomed an array of stars drawn from 16 films from Japan and abroad.
Among their number were
Hong Kong
“Over My Dead Body”
Director Ho Cheuk Tin (Competition Jury) and Actor Wong You Nam
“Hong Kong Family”
Director Tsang Hing Weng Eric
“Lost Love”
Director Ka Sing Fung...
- 3/15/2023
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
The film world premiered in Rotterdam’s Bright Future Competition.
Paris-based sales company Reel Suspects has lured Film Movement in North America and The Klockworx in Japan to Ma Xue’s erotic drama White River. The film has also sold to Germany and Austria (Donau Films) and South Korea (Lumix).
It world premiered in Rotterdam’s Bright Future Competition and follows a woman whose routine of cooking, cleaning and observing strict quarantine rules is disrupted when she becomes entangled in an erotic web with her husband and an enigmatic young waiter. Deals in South Korea and Germany are currently in negotiations.
Paris-based sales company Reel Suspects has lured Film Movement in North America and The Klockworx in Japan to Ma Xue’s erotic drama White River. The film has also sold to Germany and Austria (Donau Films) and South Korea (Lumix).
It world premiered in Rotterdam’s Bright Future Competition and follows a woman whose routine of cooking, cleaning and observing strict quarantine rules is disrupted when she becomes entangled in an erotic web with her husband and an enigmatic young waiter. Deals in South Korea and Germany are currently in negotiations.
- 2/20/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
It’s hard to watch Keishi Kondo’s New Religion and stop yourself from pointing out the influences all over it. There’s an abstract opening sequence that brings to mind Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin; a plot that might take inspiration from Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now; deliberate pacing and images recalling Nicolas Winding Refn; one sequence almost directly inspired by Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse; and an enigmatic character who could easily be played by Shinya Tsukamoto. Is it derivative? Sure, but that’s not an inherently bad thing, and Kondo’s blending of such inspirations into an off-kilter slice of cosmic horror makes for an intriguing feature debut.
The first act introduces Miyabi (Kaho Seto), a call girl who lost her daughter several years ago in a tragic accident for which she feels responsible. She has a new boyfriend (Saionji Ryuseigun) and goes through the motions...
The first act introduces Miyabi (Kaho Seto), a call girl who lost her daughter several years ago in a tragic accident for which she feels responsible. She has a new boyfriend (Saionji Ryuseigun) and goes through the motions...
- 1/21/2023
- by C.J. Prince
- The Film Stage
Ma Xue’s directorial debut world premieres at Rotterdam.
Paris-based sales outfit Reel Suspects has boarded Ma Xue’s erotic drama White River which will world premiere in Rotterdam’s Bright Future Competition.
White River follows a woman whose routine of cooking, cleaning and observing strict quarantine rules is disrupted when she becomes entangled in an erotic web with her husband and an enigmatic young waiter. Reel Suspects will market premiere the title at EFM.
Produced by Yilu Partners and Dreama Pictures, the Mandarin and English language film stars Tian Yuan, Song Ningfeng and Xu Weihao.
Reel Suspects’ founding head...
Paris-based sales outfit Reel Suspects has boarded Ma Xue’s erotic drama White River which will world premiere in Rotterdam’s Bright Future Competition.
White River follows a woman whose routine of cooking, cleaning and observing strict quarantine rules is disrupted when she becomes entangled in an erotic web with her husband and an enigmatic young waiter. Reel Suspects will market premiere the title at EFM.
Produced by Yilu Partners and Dreama Pictures, the Mandarin and English language film stars Tian Yuan, Song Ningfeng and Xu Weihao.
Reel Suspects’ founding head...
- 1/19/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Reel Suspects has boarded sales on Japanese filmmaker Keishi Kondo’s buzzed-about sci-fi horror New Religion ahead of its U.S. premiere at Slamdance later this month.
The debut feature was warmly received on the European sci-fi and horror fest circuit over the fall, with fans saying the work could herald a renaissance of the so-called J-horror genre.
Kaho Seto stars as a woman who gets divorced and takes up work as a call girl following the tragic, accidental, death of her young daughter. One day, she is engaged by a strange client who requests to take a picture of her spine.
Over the course of a number of appointments, he photographs nearly every part of her body. The woman comes to realize that every time he takes a photo, her dead daughter’s spirit gets closer. Soon, the only part of her body left to snap are her eyes.
The debut feature was warmly received on the European sci-fi and horror fest circuit over the fall, with fans saying the work could herald a renaissance of the so-called J-horror genre.
Kaho Seto stars as a woman who gets divorced and takes up work as a call girl following the tragic, accidental, death of her young daughter. One day, she is engaged by a strange client who requests to take a picture of her spine.
Over the course of a number of appointments, he photographs nearly every part of her body. The woman comes to realize that every time he takes a photo, her dead daughter’s spirit gets closer. Soon, the only part of her body left to snap are her eyes.
- 1/9/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
As the first stages of normalicy following the lessening of restrictions from the pandemic at large, a series of highly enjoyable genre movies emerged this year that proved to hit harder than expected. While not hitting as high as previous years, the selection of films produced throughout the year are bigger and grander in scope, with the effects of the looser restrictions meaning that a more traditional style could be attempted. That meant that numerous high-quality films could be utilized, with masters of the craft including Takashi Shimizu in Japan, Erik Matti in the Philippines and Joko Anwar in Indonesia, among others, returning to the genre, producing content that carries the stamp of quality from their past catalog. In addition to their efforts, newcomers Park Sye-young, Surapong Ploensang, and Kim Jin-young started their careers strong with impressive features of their own, showing signs of where they can go in the...
- 12/30/2022
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Fest unveils Narrative, Documentary, Breakouts, Spotlight, and Unstoppable programming line-ups.
Organisers at the hybrid 29th Slamdance Film Festival have announced that the word premiere of Dimitri Coats’ Free LSD will close the festival on January 20 2023 as they also unveiled Narrative, Documentary, Breakouts, Spotlight, and Unstoppable programming line-ups.
Free LSD follows an adult store owner who takes an experimental drug that provides a glimpse into a parallel universe where he is the leader of a band battling evil aliens over the future of human consciousness. Keith Morris, Coats, Autry Fulbright II, Dh Peligro, and Jack Black are among the cast.
The...
Organisers at the hybrid 29th Slamdance Film Festival have announced that the word premiere of Dimitri Coats’ Free LSD will close the festival on January 20 2023 as they also unveiled Narrative, Documentary, Breakouts, Spotlight, and Unstoppable programming line-ups.
Free LSD follows an adult store owner who takes an experimental drug that provides a glimpse into a parallel universe where he is the leader of a band battling evil aliens over the future of human consciousness. Keith Morris, Coats, Autry Fulbright II, Dh Peligro, and Jack Black are among the cast.
The...
- 12/5/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
During the 90s and the beginning of the 2000s, the J-horror category became one of the most popular internationally, with films like “Ringu”, “Pulse” “Ju-on The Grudge”, “Dark Water” and more getting noticed by fans all over the world, particularly for their move away from slasher aesthetics that used to dominate the category beforehand, as much as for their rather rich context and impressive visuals. The impact continued for many years, with Hollywood picking up the rights for a number of adaptations, while many of the aforementioned titles kickstarted franchises that are still running. However, as time passed, the genre became somewhat preterit, with the plethora of titles resulting in a drop in quality that essentially deemed the genre almost obsolete.
During the latest years, however, and although too scarcely to be called a wave, or even movement, a number of new filmmakers have taken upon them to reinvigorate the genre,...
During the latest years, however, and although too scarcely to be called a wave, or even movement, a number of new filmmakers have taken upon them to reinvigorate the genre,...
- 11/28/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Keishi Kondo is a Japanese director, screenwriter and producer. Born in 1985, he has been making films since graduating from university. He has worked as a freelancer in Tokyo and Toronto, producing music videos, event videos and other video works, and is currently working on corporate promotions and TV commercials in Japan. “New Religion” is his first feature film.
On the occasion of “New Religion” screening at Warsaw International Film Festival, we speak with him about the visuals and the unusual approach of the movie, Kaho Seto and the casting, violence in movies, the Japanese movie industry and other topics.
“New Religion” screened at Warsaw Film Festival
Do you like the color red a lot?
Yes, but I also think the particular color suits “New Religion”. This film is like my viewpoint οφ the world during the spreading of coronavirus. When we saw the pandemic for the first time, I thought I was watching apocalyptic images.
On the occasion of “New Religion” screening at Warsaw International Film Festival, we speak with him about the visuals and the unusual approach of the movie, Kaho Seto and the casting, violence in movies, the Japanese movie industry and other topics.
“New Religion” screened at Warsaw Film Festival
Do you like the color red a lot?
Yes, but I also think the particular color suits “New Religion”. This film is like my viewpoint οφ the world during the spreading of coronavirus. When we saw the pandemic for the first time, I thought I was watching apocalyptic images.
- 11/4/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Despite the fact that J-horror has been long since dead, particularly in the impact it had during the “Ringu” era, occasionally there are efforts that come out of the Japanese industry that do offer new approaches to the genre, with titles like “Bamy” and “Mimicry Freaks” being the first that come to mind. It is easy to say that Keishi Kondo’s feature debut falls under the same category.
New Religion screened at Warsaw Film Festival
That this film is going to be different is evident from the initial scene, when Miyabi, the protagonist of the movie, realizes that she has not paid attention to her young daughter Aoi for some time. Withοut any kind of drum rolls, both her and the audience realize that the kid has fallen of the balcony and is now dead, with Kondo moving almost immediately to some later time, where Miyabi is living in the same apartment,...
New Religion screened at Warsaw Film Festival
That this film is going to be different is evident from the initial scene, when Miyabi, the protagonist of the movie, realizes that she has not paid attention to her young daughter Aoi for some time. Withοut any kind of drum rolls, both her and the audience realize that the kid has fallen of the balcony and is now dead, with Kondo moving almost immediately to some later time, where Miyabi is living in the same apartment,...
- 10/23/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Edgar Allan Poe’s quote of “all that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream” from his 1849 poem A Dream Within a Dream goes hand in hand with New Religion, a surreal and dark tale that centres on loss, grief and the lengths some will go to exploit the two.
Miyabi (Kaho Seto) lives an unhappy life after her daughter, Aio, dies tragically after falling off a balcony whilst watering her plants. As a result, her marriage has broken down, and her ex-husband still abuses and blames her for their daughter’s death. Miyabi tries to keep her daughter’s memory alive by tending to the plants, but her new boyfriend would like her to move on from the tragic event.
Miyabi now works as a sex worker along with Akari (Kuroe Mizuta), a young woman who self-harms and appears to have reverted to a child-like...
Miyabi (Kaho Seto) lives an unhappy life after her daughter, Aio, dies tragically after falling off a balcony whilst watering her plants. As a result, her marriage has broken down, and her ex-husband still abuses and blames her for their daughter’s death. Miyabi tries to keep her daughter’s memory alive by tending to the plants, but her new boyfriend would like her to move on from the tragic event.
Miyabi now works as a sex worker along with Akari (Kuroe Mizuta), a young woman who self-harms and appears to have reverted to a child-like...
- 8/29/2022
- by James Doherty
- DailyDead
New Religion Photo: Courtesy of FrightFest
One of the more unusual films screening at this year's Frightfest, Keishi Kondo's New Religion tells the story of a bereaved woman's fateful encounter with a sinister man. Kaho Seto plays Miyabi, a sex worker whose life collapses when her small daughter, Aoi, falls to her death from the balcony of their apartment. Whilst she tries to begin her life again after her subsequent divorce, with a new boyfriend and a determined effort to find happiness, she can't let go of the feeling that Aoi is still in the apartment, just out of sight. When new client Oka (Satoshi Oka) asks to take a photograph of her spine, it's the beginning of a process which could change everything - but not necessarily for the better.
Ahead of the film's screening, Keishi agreed to answer some questions about it.
Jennie Kermode: How does it...
One of the more unusual films screening at this year's Frightfest, Keishi Kondo's New Religion tells the story of a bereaved woman's fateful encounter with a sinister man. Kaho Seto plays Miyabi, a sex worker whose life collapses when her small daughter, Aoi, falls to her death from the balcony of their apartment. Whilst she tries to begin her life again after her subsequent divorce, with a new boyfriend and a determined effort to find happiness, she can't let go of the feeling that Aoi is still in the apartment, just out of sight. When new client Oka (Satoshi Oka) asks to take a photograph of her spine, it's the beginning of a process which could change everything - but not necessarily for the better.
Ahead of the film's screening, Keishi agreed to answer some questions about it.
Jennie Kermode: How does it...
- 8/27/2022
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.