There’s something about the more intimate found footage films that really strikes a chord with me. I am speaking of films that feature one actor primarily, with perhaps one or two others, but the emphasis is on the main character. There is a level of intimacy in these films that I love. It’s not easy to pull off, especially when it can devolve into long monologues above all else, but with the right actor and the right idea, it can be very effective.
“Ghosts of Hiroshima” is just such a film, with the horror unfolding as the main character faces the night’s terrors alone. The film is about a young man who heads to Japan to look into an inheritance he has received from his father. His intention is to explore the home he inherited and put a camera to the test for his online review channel. At the home, he is met by a woman who tells him that the requirements of the Will are that he stay in the home for 24 hours, and then at the end of that duration, he will have it free and clear. He is a little confused by this but agrees, and then a night of horror begins. Over the course of the night, the truth of his family and their legacy is revealed, as is his family’s horrifying connection to the legacy of Hiroshima.
This is an intimate horror film, with everything taking place within the home, or just outside of it, on the property. The movie has the feel of Japanese classics, with spirits lingering at the edges or in the background, unseen by the man. The tension grows, and there are genuine scares here.
The movie gets a little confusing and breaks the rules with inserted shots from a videotaped interview, but it doesn’t really hamper the film overall. The problem is that the movie overrelies on that footage, and it needs to be doled out in smaller chunks. While the scares are good, it seems odd that he doesn’t turn on any lights when the power goes out. Not from his phone or the camera. You only see night vision via the camera, which feels very ‘movieish’. Some of his reactions are a bit unbelievable; also, though you can look past it, mostly. My big problem is that it all leads to an ending that doesn’t feel like it makes enough sense or has enough impact. It’s not awful; it just doesn’t have the impact they thought it would.
The movie reminded me of “The Abandoned” in some ways, and that’s a good thing.
It’s a creepy film, with nice scares, but it just didn’t quite land as well as I had hoped. Still definitely worth a look, though.
TL;DR: A creepy found footage film, with some good scares, that just doesn’t leave a lasting impact.
3 out of 5
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17065974
