Monday, January 30, 2017

Sadako v Kayako is a Split Decision: A Film Review

Director: Kôji Shiraishi.

Writers: Takashi Shimizu, Kôji Suzuki.

Cast: Mizuki Yamamoto, Tina Tamashiro and Aimi Satsukawa.

There have been a combined total of twenty plus films, set in the Ringu and Ju-on film universes. Spanning eighteen years, these villains have killed untold numbers victims. Now, both cursed spirits face each other in Sadako v Kayako! Shot in Japan, the film was put together after an April Fool's Joke went viral. And, this outing is lighter in tone, compared to the earlier, more horrifying titles. This film fan was reminded of Hong-jin Na's The Wailing (2015), while watching this title. In both films, shamans are powerless to fight the supernatural. Still, the outcome of Sadako v Kayako can be predicted from a mile away. There is no way these iconic, money-making characters can take a final sleep. Sadako v Kayako is a bit predictable, but it is also an entertaining film.

The story begins with a cursed tape. Sadako (Elly Nanami), relegated to VHS, must wait patiently for two students to unleash her, again. Natsumi (Aimi Satsukawa) needs a wedding tape converted from VHS to DVD, so techie Yuri (Mizuki Yamamoto) agrees to help. Unfortunately, they choose a VCR with the famed cursed tape inside. Natsumi watches a jerky Sadako emerge from a dilapidated building. She now has only two days to live, down from the usual seven. Meanwhile, children are still entering the haunted home of Kayako (Runa Endo) and Toshio (Rintaro Shibamoto). How many people have to die before this house is condemned? Notably, four young students face both Toshio and Kayako; they don't last long. But, these cursed characters have not even begun to satisfy their bloodlust. Not much later, a shaman brings both of these supernatural ghosts together, in order to extinguish both of their flames. Sadly, he only amplifies their powers, in the final few minutes. The winner, of this ghostly boxing match, will have to go to the judges.

This film viewer was reminded of The Wailing, while watching this latest horror title. Both films deal with a curse. And, both curses are not easily vanquished. Shamans perform shamanic rituals, in both titles. But, no one has the power to put these killing genies back in the bottle. Shamans have very little power to overcome the supernatural, in Asian horror. These two films are very different in tone, however, with Sadako v Kayako a bit less terrifying. Neither film has a satisfying closed ending, though.

Horror fans will know the final outcome of Sadako v Kayako. There have just been too many sequels, remakes and other general spin-offs, from both film series, to declare a winner. This title is similar to a few other mashups, such as: Freddy vs. Jason (2003), or AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004). The iconic characters in these two earlier films have also been built up over time. And, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. In these cases, the more money these films have generated, the more likely they are to continue. It is repetition over creativity, in some areas of modern filmmaking. To vanquish either Sadako or Kayako could make way for another, more interesting villain. But, it is simpler for studios to continue with tried and true formulas, to get viewers into seats. So, the outcome of Sadako v Kayako is a forgone conclusion. It is just a matter of whether viewers are happy with the inevitable showdown.

Sadako v Kayako was already launched in Japan, in a number of theatres. In North America, the film is being shown on Shudder, a newly launched Video-on-demand platform. This viewer enjoyed this horror villain contest. The writers, Takashi Shimizu and Kôji Suzuki, take some time to bring these killers together. Once they do, the action and pacing are amplified, but so are the curses. One shaman could not have come up with a worse strategy, to rid the world of these apparitions. They only grow in size! Curses are still holding strong, in Asian cinema. But, this viewer would be okay if either of these horror franchises took a final dirt nap, in order to bring something new to the screen. There have been over twenty films across both film series, after all. But, as long as people are still buying, Sadako v Kayako and both of these respective film series will continue to curse both small and big screens.

Overall: 6.75 out of 10.

A trailer for the film is available here: A Sadako v Kayako Trailer on 28DLA

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