Kiyoshi Kurosawa - Cure (1997), 8/10

Kurosawa had many happy accidents take place during the production of Cure, making the final product an amalgamation of chance and fate just like its beautifully written story. Moments such as the weather during the beach scene and the second murder, the length of certain takes, or even some of the events that take place were a product of the filmmaking process, showing an adaptability and working fluidity that serve the project well. The plot and the narrative progression of the film are very unique and unsettling, as are Yakusho and Hagiwara's performances. Hagiwara in particular embodies the character of Mamiya so profoundly that it becomes hard to separate his being from the character. Mamiya's understated manipulation and the disproportionately combative responses to his calm demeanor are a large part of what makes Cure work so well, and what makes its character arcs so interesting. His demeanor and dialogue are equal parts disturbing and philosophical, but also add a sort of humor to an otherwise brutal story. The unclear storytelling, particularly in its final sequences, only add to the film's staying power and its broader meaning. This coupled with the juxtapositions of lighthearted presentation with brutal imagery, especially in the first murder of the film, help the picture stand out immediately but develop further beyond the obvious themes quite rapidly. If ever a film begs a second watch, it is surely Cure. Yakusho explains the significance of the film's characters as, "how humans become monstrous when they are in a stress free state". This is a proper summation of the film's main underlying theme and shows how intimately he understands Kurosawa's story and what informed his character. Unlike many other psychological thrillers, Cure takes its time to develop, unfold, and spend time with its story without overstaying its welcome.