Having watched a few Asian “found footage” films recently, I have to say that they are a breath of fresh air compared to most of what is churned out in the United States. Even if the film doesn’t nail the landing, it still has personality. So many American “found footage” films feel like they are ticking boxes, one by one.
Ghost, check.
Woods, check.
Dragged by demon, check.
Close-up of someone crying, check.
On and on.
There are good American “found footage” films, but man alive, are there even more just mediocre ones. Same locations, same themes, same characters, wash, rinse, repeat.
“Cult” is different.
Maybe a little TOO different.
Three actresses are hired to document what appears to be the haunting of a mother and daughter in their home. The three will remain there, filming everything, until the matter is resolved. With them, they will have someone who will work to dispel anything that may be inhabiting the home. The women quickly realize that they have gotten in over their heads, as they come to understand that there are demonic presences in the home, and that they are going to require far more intervention than was expected. As activity in the home ramps up, we soon see that this is more than just demons in the home, but the work of a cult with dark interests on destroying more than just a family.
This is a wild movie. It starts off pretty normal, with the young woman covering the haunting and the holy man clearing the house, but soon things get out of control, creating the need for someone with even more experience with evil. Enter a character straight out of an anime. Young, handsome, strange, and very flamboyant, this is a master who shall rid the home of evil. From there, the movie gets weird and wilder, setting up for a crazy final act. Possession, mystery, betrayal, and the end of the world are all in store for the viewer.
It’s SO weird that you’re either with it or not. I tried, I really did, but I couldn’t buy into how freewheeling things got. It’s fun, don’t doubt that, but it is just so weird that I had trouble connecting with it as it concluded. Add to that that it feels like the first part of a series that I don’t think exists. What’s crazy though, is that this is the same director that made “Noroi,” an absolute banger of a “found footage” film.
If you love Asian horror and want a unique and utterly weird “found footage” film, then look no further. I found it on Tubi, and it’s…something. It’s made well, the acting is good, and the effects are, well, passable. A lot of folks may not love this one, but I bet a few of you will adore it.
TL;DR: Full-blown weirdness in this haunted house “found footage” film that feels a bit like a live-action anime.
3 out of 5
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2281002
