Koji Shiraishi is, without question, the most original voice operating consistently within the micro-genre of found footage horror films. His works mix themes of investigative journalism, and multimedia collage with folk horror and urban legend to craft films that aren’t just creepy or unsettling, but are also fundamentally interesting mystery narratives.
Shiraishi doesn’t so much use the idea of “found footage” as a gimmick so much as he understands the way we use media to create narratives and to unpack experiences in the world around us. Things like TV shows, interviews, and even home videos all filter different ideas of truth and trust down to viewers. We craft our concept of the ‘real’ out of the media we see and hear.
While the J-Horror rising box set includes a whole host of under-seen gems from Japan’s rich history of Horror film, Shiraishi’s Noroi: The Curse, is unquestionably the jewel in the crown here. The Blair Witch Project may have introduced the concept of found footage horror to the broader public, but with Noroi, Shiraishi perfected it.
Special Features (via arrowvideo.com)
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all seven films
- Original lossless 5.1 and lossless stereo sound options for Shikoku, Isola: Multiple Personality Girl, Inugami, St. John's Wort, Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman and Noroi: The Curse, and original lossless stereo audio for Persona
- Optional English subtitles for each film
- Reversible sleeves and slipcover featuring newly commissioned artwork by Dare Creative
DISC ONE - SHIKOKU / ISOLA: MULTIPLE PERSONALITY GIRL
- Audio commentary on Shikoku by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes
- Audio commentary on Isola: Multiple Personality Girl by critics and Japanese cinema experts Jasper Sharp and Amber T.
- The Aftermath, Tom Mes discusses J-Horror at the turn of the millennium
- Something in the Water, an interview with Shikoku director Shunichi Nagasaki
- Archive interviews with director Shunichi Nagasaki and actors Chiaki Kuriyama and Yui Natsukawa on Shikoku
- Archive interview with actors Yoshino Kimura and Yu Kurosawa on Isola: Multiple Personality Girl
- On-set footage of the filming of Shikoku
- Original trailers and TV spots for both films
- Image galleries
DISC TWO - INUGAMI / ST. JOHN'S WORT
- Audio commentary on Inugami by Japanese cinema expert Jonathan Clements
- Audio commentary on St. John's Wort by Japanese cinema expert Amber T.
- Dog Days, a video interview with Inugami director Masato Harada
- The Making of St. John's Wort, archival featurette
- Archive interviews with St. John's Wort actors Megumi Okina, Koichiro Saito, Reiko Matsuo and Koji Okura
- On-set behind-the-scenes footage of the filming of St. John's Wort
- Original trailers and TV spots for St. John's Wort
- Image galleries for both films
DISC THREE - CARVED: THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN / PERSONA
- Audio commentary on Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman by Japanese folklore expert Zack Davisson
- Why So Serious?, an interview with Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman director Koji Shiraishi
- Weapon of Choice, a video essay on Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman by Japanese horror specialist Lindsay Nelson
- Confessions of a Mask, an interview with Persona director Takashi Komatsu
- Image galleries for both films
DISC FOUR - NOROI: THE CURSE
- Audio commentary by film critic Julian Singleton
- Director's POV, a video interview with Noroi: The Curse director Koji Shiraishi
- The Man in the Shadows, an interview with Noroi: The Curse producer Takashige Ichise
- Changing Perspective, a video essay on Noroi: The Curse by Japanese horror specialist Lindsay Nelson
- Ectoplasmic Worms, a video essay on Noroi: The Curse and Japanese cosmic horror by Japanese cinema expert Amber T.
- How to Protect Yourself Against Curses
- Urgent report! Pursuing the Truth about Kagutaba!! TV Special
- Over half an hour of deleted scenes
- Trailers and TV spots
- Image gallery
