RECOMMENDED
Kiyoshi Kurosawa returns to the tension of his atmospheric early J-horror films with “Creepy” (Kurîpî), following a retired detective (Hidetoshi Nishijima) hired to solve a family mystery that may involve an “oni,” or demon. In movies like “Cure” (1997) and “Charisma” (1999), about a tree that might precipitate apocalypse, Kurosawa’s sensations of dread are unrivaled. His later movies have been better and worse, but “Creepy”’s most inspired moments earn respect as well as genuine dread, working in ordinary settings with extraordinary creepiness. And the climatic cruelty is sweetly punishing payoff. With Yuko Takeuchi, Masahiro Higashide, Teruyuki Kagawa. 130m. (Ray Pride)
“Creepy” opens Friday, November 11 at Siskel.
Ray Pride is Newcity’s film critic and a contributing editor to Filmmaker magazine.
His multimedia history of Chicago “Ghost Signs” will be published in 2023.
Previews on Twitter (twitter.com/chighostsigns) as well as photography on Instagram: instagram.com/raypride.
Twitter: twitter.com/RayPride