Charisma

Not everyone will agree with me, but I generally prefer Kurosawa's films that distance themselves from the horror genre. Charisma has a pretty peculiar setup and there are some horror remnants present, but this little eco-war movie is far removed from the likes of Cure, Pulse, or Seance, and it's a much better film because of it.

After he messes up an investigation, police detective Goro removes himself from the city and retreats into the mountains. He won't find peace there though, as he gets involved in a quest to save a tree. The tree is a source of contention for three different groups of people, and Goro finds him in another situation where his course of action will directly determine the outcome.

A peculiar but fun setup that allows Kurosawa to play with different elements, while also allowing him to reflect on life whenever the film slows down a little. It's another feature of his that requires effort on the audience's side and I'm bummed that it's once again a stylistic misfire, but it's an easy recommendation for fans of the man's work. Pretty unique.