Cloud

Kiyoshi Kurosawa is perhaps best known for Pulse, a sombre techno-horror in which ghosts use the internet as a gateway to infiltrate the world of the living. Although there are no ghosts in his latest film, Cloud, the web nevertheless proves to be just as dangerous for its protagonist, Ryosuke (Masaki Suda), in this effective slow-burn psychological horror. As enticingly chilling as this movie’s portrayal of the modern-day technology is, Cloud is unfortunately let down by a clunky final act.

Living in a cramped Tokyo apartment with his girlfriend (Kotone Furukawa), Ryosuke earns money by selling dubious products online at insanely high prices. This income stream allows him to quit his job and move to a scenic lakeside home, where he soon begins to experience a series of strange events which suggest that his life is in danger. At first these warnings come in the form of a dead animal left outside his home and a man staring at him through a window. Although Ryosuke initially dismisses these small occurrences as unimportant, their persistent appearance instils a sense of creeping unease that seeps under the viewer’s skin and gradually intensifies as the threat becomes more tangible.

Much like Pulse, atmosphere plays a key role in this film’s success. The deliberate pacing, combined with a sparse soundscape that expertly uses silence at points for emphasis, creates a disquieting ambience that further heightens the tension. This sense of dread builds steadily until the story reaches its halfway mark, where events escalate to a tipping point and the full severity of Ryosuke’s situation is unveiled.

Here, the genre shifts from a suspenseful psychological thriller to something more akin to an action film. While Kurosawa’s slow and methodical pacing retains some of the earlier tension as Ryosuke confronts his situation, the final act begins to drag towards the end.

Additionally, several bizarre plot twists, emerging abruptly, undermine what is meant to be a dramatic climax, rendering it somewhat ludicrous. Although Cloud doesn’t quite stick the landing, Kurosawa’s latest film still offers a menacing portrayal of the dangers posed by the internet today

Although Cloud doesn’t quite stick the landing, Kurosawa’s latest offering is still a menacing take on the dangers of the internet today.

Andrew Murray

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