This was an effectively creepy film in my opinion. "Obyayubi sagashi" or the English title "Vanished." Tells the story of 5 childhood friends who meet at a high school reunion and reminisce about their friend Yumiko who "Vanished" when they were kids. Yumiko vanished while playing a game with the group and in modern day the group decide to play this game once more. As soon as they do they begin to be haunted by the ghost of Yumiko and are picked off one by one. The editing in this was outstanding I enjoy how it jumped around from the past to the present and did a lot of its storytelling through visuals. I also think the scare sequences were tremendous here. There's a great one with actress Runa Nagai (Tomie Another Face) is out in the rain looking for a toy she had hidden from Yumiko when they were kids. The whole way that scene plays out is worth watching this for alone. My only knock would be the ending and a couple of twists the story takes mainly the entire story of Saki and her father felt a little contrived. I understand why it's there but I felt Yumiko would've been enough. Very solid movie overall wish it was more readily available to watch.

Japanese cinema is celebrated for its refined minimalist dramas and avant-garde experimentation; it also introduced popular genres like jidaigeki (samurai epics), kaiju, and anime. Across both high art and mass entertainment, it often explores morality, impermanence, and the pressures of modern life.

Hidetoshi Nishijima and Tôko Miura in Drive My Car (2021)

The horror genre features stories that aim to elicit fear, suspense, and a sense of dread in its audience. Horror stories often explore themes related to the unknown, the supernatural, and the macabre, and they frequently evoke strong emotional reactions such as anxiety, terror, and unease.

The mystery genre features the investigation and solving of a puzzle, typically a crime or an enigmatic event. Mysteries are known for their suspenseful narratives, intricate plots, and the challenge they present to readers or viewers to piece together clues and solve the central mystery alongside the characters.

Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)

Eight school friends innocently join together to play a game that, if played well, promised to make their greatest dreams come true. But, they soon discover that mistakes may cost them more than even their dreams could tell.

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