Noroi: The Curse (2005) is a Japanese found-footage horror film directed by Kōji Shiraishi. Unlike traditional horror films, it presents itself as a documentary compiled from various footage sources—interviews, TV recordings, and video tapes—piecing together a chilling mystery about ancient curses, psychic phenomena, and unseen supernatural forces.
Detailed Summary
The Disappearance of Masafumi Kobayashi
The movie begins with the introduction of Masafumi Kobayashi, a journalist and documentary filmmaker who specializes in investigating paranormal occurrences. He’s working on a new documentary titled The Curse, exploring strange supernatural incidents across Japan. Before the film’s completion, Kobayashi mysteriously disappears, and his house is found burned down, with his wife’s body inside. The footage that follows is presented as the remnants of his unfinished project.
Strange Noises and Mysterious Neighbors
Kobayashi’s investigation starts with a woman named Junko Ishii, who complains about hearing baby-like crying sounds coming from her neighbor’s home. Shortly afterward, the woman and her son vanish, and strange events begin unfolding in the area. When Kobayashi visits Junko’s house, he finds disturbing symbols, piles of dead pigeons, and remnants of religious rituals.
Kana Yano – The Psychic Child
Parallel to this, a young girl named Kana Yano appears on a TV show demonstrating psychic abilities. She claims she can hear voices from the dead. Not long after, she goes missing during a recording of a paranormal program. Kobayashi connects her disappearance with Junko Ishii’s strange activities, suspecting that both are linked to an ancient entity called Kagutaba.
Kagutaba – The Ancient Demon
Through historical research, Kobayashi learns about Kagutaba, a demonic spirit once worshipped in a small village called Shimokage. The villagers used to perform rituals to appease Kagutaba, but after the area was flooded to create a dam, the spirit’s shrine was destroyed. Since then, people connected to the area or its rituals have met with bizarre deaths or gone insane.
Mitsuo Hori and the Psychic Connection
Kobayashi meets Mitsuo Hori, a disturbed psychic man who constantly wears aluminum foil to protect himself from “spiritual radio waves.” Though unstable, Hori warns Kobayashi that Kagutaba is returning and that Kana Yano’s disappearance is part of the curse. Hori’s erratic behavior escalates, yet his predictions and sketches seem eerily accurate.
The Ritual and the Return of Kagutaba
As Kobayashi’s investigation deepens, he uncovers a horrifying pattern of deaths linked by symbols and rituals meant to summon Kagutaba. He discovers that Junko Ishii is performing dark ceremonies involving children and that she might have merged with the demonic entity.
The Tragic Climax
Kobayashi and his cameraman follow Hori to the forest, where they find Ishii performing a disturbing ritual involving fetuses and masks representing Kagutaba. A violent supernatural event occurs, killing several people. Hori becomes possessed, Ishii dies, and chaos erupts.
Movie Ending
In the final sequence, Kobayashi returns to his home, appearing visibly shaken but determined to end the curse. His camera captures the aftermath of his discoveries: Ishii’s son is revealed to be deeply connected to Kagutaba, possibly born as a vessel for the demon. When Kobayashi tries to help him, the child begins manifesting supernatural powers—screaming, convulsing, and telekinetically hurling objects.
Kobayashi’s wife intervenes, attempting to protect him, but the entity overtakes her. The camera violently shakes as an unseen force causes destruction in the house. The footage cuts abruptly.
A text card reveals that Kobayashi’s home later burned to the ground, his wife was found dead, and Kobayashi himself vanished without a trace. The implication is that Kagutaba has fully possessed the boy and that the curse continues to spread through anyone who learns about it—including the viewer.
The chilling meta-layer leaves audiences questioning whether the film itself is cursed, making the “found footage” premise terrifyingly immersive.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Noroi: The Curse does not have any post-credits scenes. The movie ends with the ominous text revealing Kobayashi’s disappearance. The credits themselves serve to heighten the realism—ending abruptly, without closure, to mimic a genuine lost documentary.
Type of Movie
Noroi: The Curse is a Japanese found-footage horror and mockumentary-style supernatural thriller. It relies heavily on atmosphere, realism, and dread rather than jump scares.
Cast
- Jin Muraki as Masafumi Kobayashi
- Tomono Kuga as Keiko Kobayashi
- Marika Matsumoto as Herself (the actress playing a fictionalized version)
- Ryō Kano as Junko Ishii’s son
- Satoru Jitsunashi as Mitsuo Hori
- Kana Yano as Herself
Film Music and Composer
The film uses minimal traditional scoring. Instead, it relies on ambient sound design—white noise, static, and environmental hum—to create a documentary realism. Composer Gary Ashiya contributes subtle background textures, but the most haunting “music” is the silence between the sounds.
Filming Locations
Filming took place across various locations in Tokyo and the rural countryside of Japan. The mix of modern urban environments and desolate forests heightens the contrast between technology and ancient superstition—a central theme of the film. The dam area, where the Kagutaba legend originates, was shot in a remote mountainous region, adding authenticity to the cursed-village narrative.
Awards and Nominations
While Noroi didn’t receive major mainstream awards, it became a cult classic and is highly regarded among horror fans and critics. It was praised at several international film festivals for its realistic documentary style and innovative approach to supernatural horror.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Director Kōji Shiraishi wanted the film to feel “too real to be comfortable.” He instructed actors to improvise many lines to maintain authenticity.
- The actress Marika Matsumoto plays a fictionalized version of herself to blur the line between reality and fiction.
- Shiraishi shot several scenes with non-actors who didn’t know the full story, capturing genuine confusion and fear.
- The “found footage” was edited from over 20 hours of raw material.
Inspirations and References
The movie was inspired by Japanese folklore, particularly legends involving yōkai (spirits) and Shinto rituals. It also draws influence from:
- Hideo Nakata’s Ringu (1998) – for its cursed media concept
- Real-life Japanese TV psychics of the 1990s
- Documentary horror like The Blair Witch Project (1999), though Noroi predates many of its imitators in Japan
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There are no widely known alternate endings. However, some deleted interview footage exists in limited editions, showing Kobayashi visiting more locals in the cursed area. These scenes expand on Kagutaba’s backstory but were cut for pacing and realism.
Book Adaptations and Differences
While Noroi isn’t based on a novel, it inspired several books and companion materials written after the film’s release. These works delve deeper into Kagutaba’s mythology and Kobayashi’s earlier investigations.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Kana Yano’s psychic demonstration on live TV
- The night-vision scene in Junko Ishii’s house, showing ghostly movement
- The ritual mask appearing in multiple unrelated locations
- The final fire sequence at Kobayashi’s home
Iconic Quotes
- Kobayashi: “When you look into the curse, the curse looks back at you.”
- Mitsuo Hori: “It’s coming! It’s coming! Kagutaba is coming!”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The film’s opening date, 2004/08/12, matches the date of Japan’s worst airplane disaster—a subtle reference to mass tragedy.
- Several background news clips reference disappearances from other Shiraishi films, suggesting a shared universe.
- The name “Kagutaba” resembles real Japanese demon names from ancient Shinto folklore.
Trivia
- Some fans claim watching the film brings bad luck—a superstition that boosted its cult status.
- The film was so realistic that early festival audiences thought it was a real banned documentary.
- Director Shiraishi appears briefly in a background shot, Hitchcock-style.
- The movie’s promotional campaign involved “lost tape” posters distributed around Tokyo.
Why Watch?
Noroi: The Curse is one of the most chilling and intelligent found-footage films ever made. It’s perfect for viewers who prefer slow-burn psychological horror over cheap scares. Its power lies in its realism, unsettling buildup, and the way it makes the supernatural feel disturbingly plausible.
Director’s Other Movies
- Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (2007)
- Occult (2009)
- Grotesque (2009)
- Sadako vs. Kayako (2016)
- A Record of Sweet Murder (2014)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Lake Mungo (2008)
- The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- Paranormal Activity (2007)
- The Medium (2021)
- Incantation (2022)
