Madness. Terror. Murder. That’s the tagline for Kiyoshi Kurosawa’ 1997 film Cure. Add in a deep feeling of uneasiness and paranoia and you’ve got an accurate and succinct description of one of the most underrated films of the late 90s. A masterclass in psychological horror, Cure deserves its spot in a pantheon of great murder mysteries that came out from the Far East Asian region in the late 90s and early 2000s. The slow-burning thriller takes the audience on a journey through the mind of a serial killer and the detective who becomes obsessed with solving the case.

The film is beautifully shot, with Kurosawa making masterful use of shadows and light to create a haunting atmosphere. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the tension to build gradually until the film’s shocking conclusion.

What sets Cure apart from other horror films of its type is its willingness to delve into the psychology of its characters. The killer’s motives are never fully explained, which the film is better off for, leaving the audience to grapple with the unsettling ambiguity of his actions. Similarly, the detective’s obsession with the case raises uncomfortable questions about the nature of justice and the toll that seeking it can take on an individual.

The performances in Cure are exceptional, with Koji Yakusho giving a nuanced and deeply affecting portrayal of the detective. His character’s journey is the emotional heart of the film, and Yakusho’s performance is one of the main reasons why Cure remains such a powerful and resonant work of cinema. His performance is matched by an incredibly eerie and sly performance from the main antagonist played by Masato Hagiwara. Hagiwara’s character spends much of the first half of the film playing the part of an amnesiac, which is brilliantly done and makes the character’s coming into his own in the latter half all the more bone-chilling. The two actors have tremendous chemistry with one another and that results in scenes between the two of them being the most compelling in the entire film and sets-up for an incredibly satisfying and worthwhile conclusion.

Overall, Cure is a masterpiece of psychological horror that rewards careful attention and reflection. Kurosawa’s deft direction, stunning cinematography, and outstanding performances all combine to create a film that lingers in the mind long after the credits have rolled. If you’re a fan of horror or psychological thrillers, Cure is not to be passed up on.