Renowned Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa, known for redefining horror with unnerving, psychologically rich films, is preparing to take on a new genre: the samurai movie. Although the project remains under wraps, Kurosawa confirmed that the long-held desire to create a film set in the samurai era may soon become a reality.
But this will be no ordinary jidaigeki. The director, celebrated for his atmospheric narratives and slow-burning tension, promises a story set not amidst sweeping battles or epic duels, but in the confined and unsettling setting of a samurai-era castle. The focus, as always with Kurosawa, will be on eerie psychological depth rather than swordplay and spectacle.
His unique approach to storytelling has long emphasized realism, even as his plots explore surreal or disturbing territory. Kurosawa admits that despite his dedication to portraying modern societal realities, his films are inherently fictional—a contradiction he embraces with each new project. “You create a lie,” he says, “like a horrific character in a realistic framework.”
This paradox shapes his latest thriller Cloud, starring Masaki Suda. The film follows a struggling man who begins reselling secondhand goods for profit, only to fall into a spiral of morally grey decisions and escalating consequences. Like many of Kurosawa’s works, Cloud transforms an ordinary situation into a chilling exploration of guilt, human fragility, and vengeance.
Kurosawa’s meticulous research and dedication to detail infuse his films with authenticity. Even his most violent moments—often stylized and surreal—are shot with a striking sense of visual control. In Cure (1997), a cult classic starring Koji Yakusho, long unbroken takes capture the slow unraveling of characters’ minds, inviting viewers to confront madness directly.
Though he distances himself from science fiction, Kurosawa does not shy away from inserting subtle, uncanny elements into otherwise grounded stories, heightening the discomfort in ways that linger long after the credits roll.
With influences such as Alfred Hitchcock guiding his craft, Kurosawa insists filmmaking is not about pleasing everyone involved but rather about choosing what feels “right.” For him, the filmmaker’s role is to navigate conflicting opinions and uncover a singular creative truth—no matter how unsettling that truth might be.
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