The man who helped kick-start the Asian suspense wave. He made a couple of decent films along the way, though his "less-is-more" approach to horror is somewhat of an acquired taste. If you care about film history though, there's no way around Nakata.
Movies
Dark Water
A film that is often considered in the same wheelhouse as Ringu. It's not too weird a thought, both films are after all directed by the same person, they were released not far apart and they're both horror films. What made Dark Water so much better for me is that it's not quite part of that less-is-more let's-go-for-cheap Japanese horror cinema. The start is slow, but the build-up is competent and things get progressively more tense. It's not exactly scary anymore and if you've seen a couple of these films you can easily predict the underlying drama, but the final third of the film contains some haunting and memorable scenes. Very solid, but a little dated.Read all
Hideo Nakata returns with a gambler epic. It's not that Nakata turned his back on horror cinema completely, but he's been branching out for quite a while now. Usogui is a pretty decent film, but it's also blockbuster fodder that lacks a real signature and can't compete with the better films in the genre. The elongated gambling scenes are pretty fun, the problem is that the outcome is always very predictable and the little twists aren't really all that genius. Performances are decent and the production values are high, but it's not really enough to make this one stand out. Solid and decent entertainment though.Read all
Hideo Nakata's tech thriller. It's a bit like watching an update of The Net (1995), only with some serial killer elements thrown in to make it a bit more exciting. It's actually somewhat successful too, though this film mostly underlines that Nakata hasn't been on top of his game for quite a while now. Stolen Identity isn't a bad film, Nakata's direction is competent and a couple of minor twists keep things interesting. On the other hand, it's not a very notable film. Performances are decent, so is the cinematography and score, there's just little here that makes a big impression. Entertaining filler though.Read all
The Incite Mill
Much like Tsuruta and Shimizu, Hideo Nakata has trouble reinventing himself. The Forbidden Play is another archetypical J-Horror, with some minor twists, but the crux of the matter is that these films are past their expiration date, and horror cinema-wise, the world needs something else right now. The Forbidden Play has an interesting setup and with a different director this could've been a fun Rampo-like chiller, but it all leads back to a pale ghost who goes through the usual haunting procedures. The scares are only mildly interesting and clocking in well beyond the 90-minute mark, the film overstays its welcome. It's not a terrible feature, but only for the hardcore horror crowd.Read all
Stolen Identity 2
More of the same, only less interesting. Nakata's Stolen Identity was a decent but somewhat bland techno-thriller, the second part is a bit blander still. It feels too much like an expanded TV series episode, void of cinematic qualities and only interested in serving a police investigation with mediocre twists and turns. The cinematography is poor, the performances leave a lot to be desired and the plot is mediocre. The second half is a little better, as there are some proper reveals, but it's not enough to make this a worthwhile film. It's decent thriller filler, but Nakata can do so much better. Too lazy for its own good.Read all
Another entry in the Ringu franchise, helmed by Nakata himself. It's more mystery/drama than horror though and the few scares that are there are greatly ineffective. It feels like a film from a bygone era, but judged on its own merits it's not a terrible film. Just don't expect too much from it and don't try to compare it to the other films in the franchise.
A mediocre thriller. Performances are decent and there are a few tense moments, but the plot isn't all that interesting and the drama fails to impress. Though short, the film is basic and struggles to keep the attention. It's been a while since Nakata made anything worthwhile, this film isn't doing much to fix his faltering reputation.
Mediocre dramady about forced retirement and the difficulties some people have with the change of pace. Japanese work culture is a bit different from ours, but it shouldn't be too hard to follow. Sadly the performances aren't that great, the comedy is rather weak and Nakata isn't the best drama director. Not terrible, but very forgettable.
Nakata started his career working on pinku films, so it's no surprise that he handled this documentary. It's a pretty fascinating world, in the sense that it comes across as quite lewd and exploitative, but the reality of the matter is always very dry and plain. At least, when you hear these people talk about it. It's always interesting to hear from these directors directly, but this film also spends a lot of time with some of the more renowned actresses who featured in Konuma's films. There are a few too many scenes from his films and there are no spectacular revelations, but it remains a unique niche and it's nice to have seen a couple of docs on the subject.Read all
I think Nakata has reached the point where he needs to ask himself if he feels he still has something to add to the horror genre. Stigmatized Properties felt like a 25-year-old film that just happened to be made last year. It is so insanely derivative and uninspired that you have to wonder why Nakata even bothered. There is a lot of padding here, which isn't very interesting at all. Generic characters and Nakata's tepid direction simply don't support a dramatic narrative. The bigger problem though is that none of the haunts are scary. It's just the same old ghosts and apparitions doing the same old things. The ending gives the film a small boost, other than that this is for the most hardened J-Horror fans only.Read all
Death Note: L Change the World
Scary True Stories: Curse, Death & Spirit
