Name: The Viper's Hex
Genre: Horror
Released: 2018-12-20
Duration: 1 h 32 min
Rating: 6.2
Cast: Kenji Shimada, Kaori Kawabuchi, Nozomi de Lencquesaing

Technically accomplished yet bland horror/drama

After a misguided night of passion, a pregnant woman finds herself being haunted by a supernatural specter that has been involved with her since childhood into trying to help raise her lot in life and soon finds herself in far deadlier situations than she expected trying to get away from it all.

For the most part, this one works nicely. Among the most glaring facets of this one are the technical skills at the forefront of the film as there's a string of stirring and visually-impressive sequences. From the opening shots of her with her charge that sets this in motion being shot through the neon lights alongside the reveling New Years party-goers, to her delirious trip through the city looking to escape the spirit, as well as the interactions with her patients, take place in darkened rooms with bright neon lights held inside the room, they're that much more visually impressive against the more traditional elements at play. With the first half detailing the cold, oppressive cityscapes as her life is in an ever-more downward spiral, this correlates nicely to how her loneliness is captured since it turns into a much brighter and more engaging experience once she's out in the snow. Most of this is aided by the remorseless atmosphere featuring her troubled condition considering her backstory is traumatic and her present life is no better where everyone seems to be against her. Once it becomes obvious how her spirit guardian is influencing her, this one goes from bleak to dark quickly as this one turns into a horror film rather nicely with her final revenge out in the woods that generates the best horror-action here as well as getting the bloody gore featured. If the film has any failings, it comes from its horror trappings. Frankly, for most genre fans, it doesn't have enough to satisfy as this doesn't play as one for the most part. The main part of this one is far more concerned putting her through the drama of her lifestyle and her past traumas so the feeling one gets is more of a dark drama and that's a bit of a problem. There's a problem sustaining any kind of dreadful tone or atmosphere here with the spirit hardly getting involved until the end and making the pacing seem glacial at times. Although her plight is tragic, keeping the spirit off-screen for so long to deal with these issues doesn't make it seem like a genre effort. It also doesn't hurt that the titular spirit looks awful, leaving it's few scenes as a positive. The look of a kabuki player with snake-eye lenses doesn't inspire fear at all and the scenes featuring her are rife with laughter rather than terror. Rife with some ropy special effects work during the finale, the film does fall short during it's supposed genre setups.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

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.

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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.

Kiyo, a cursed hostess falls pregnant to Anchin. After learning the news, he flees Tokyo leaving her heartbroken. Kiyo, now alone turns to someone who has been with her since birth - A vengeful spirit known only as "The Viper"

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The Viper's Hex

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