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Reviews
Ju-on: Origins (2020)
More Japanese than Expected
As a fan of horror, especially J-horror, I noticed more Japanese touches in the series over all like 4 (Shi = death ) pairs of shoes in some frames for tension and the use of a newborn in a horror context. There was even mention of a real Japanese crime in background news reports that happened in that same time period ( the girl incased in concrete).
It's a rewrite from the traditional groaning and crab walking of the original but it more than makes up for it in little touches of Japanese culture that you can't really get in something like the American film remake.
Its target audience is most likely Japanese natives or at least someone who prefers traditional J-horror folklore that can take the time to look up some of the cultural nuances. Especially with the added mystery element.
This will fall flat for someone who wants to tune out and watch something scary for a thrill. But I love it for all the above reasons. It's only sin is misaimed marketing.
Emelie (2015)
Great for Netflix, Average for a Thriller
The premise is an interesting one but the film seems to fall a little short. The obsession behind why she wants that particular child is not fully explained. Why was he the chosen Cubby? Was there a resemblance or something?
Also the ending is pretty implausible. No one can survive getting run over and blasted by fireworks.