Running Time: 124 Minutes
Certification: 15
Starring: Masaki Suda, Kotone Furukawa, Daiken Okudaira, Amane Okayama, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Masataka Kubota, Masaaki Akahori, Mutsuo Yoshioka
You must hand it to Kiyoshi Kurosawa. As a director with a lengthy filmography containing highly regarded classics, it could be easy for a filmmaker to rest on their laurels, yet he still brings cinematic bangers to entice audiences. 2024 brought the absolutely chilling Chime, while the following year sees the release of the very different yet entirely compelling Cloud. The film opens with Ryosuke Yoshii (Masaki Suda) arriving at a warehouse, haggling for thirty boxes of therapy devices. The sellers are dissatisfied with the price offered, and they are not any happier as the parties reach a deal.
Yoshii is a reseller, purchasing large quantities of stock for low prices before selling them at a much higher price. His methods are unethical, particularly as questions arise whether his sold items are legitimate, but it is enough of a success that he can leave his factory job to focus on it. Following his instinct, he rents a lakeside house outside the city to start a new life with his materialistic girlfriend, Akiko (Kotone Furukawa), while helped by his new assistant, Sano (Daiken Okudaira). While things appear to be improving for Yoshii, that soon changes as unsettling incidents occur around him, threatening to tear his life apart.
For many people, including those that attend concerts or collect Pokémon cards, resellers (also known as scalpers) are a costly barrier to people doing what they love. Centering the protagonist in that role offers a clear depiction of Yoshii, as his desire to follow his own instincts is centered around making money, regardless of who gets ripped off in the process. While his mentor struggles to succeed within the same business, Yoshii is joined by Akiko, the materialistic girlfriend who wishes to no longer work, and Sano, the assistant whose loyalty knows no bounds.
As the story develops, Kurosawa takes a really interesting approach. While each unfolding element feels like a natural progression to what came before it, the film remains far from predictable, with viewers kept on their toes regarding what will happen in the next scene. Despite the variety of ideas and tones which are utilized, it resembles a magic trick to see how well elements like unsettling imagery, an action focus, and folk-horror elements sit alongside each other.
The story focuses on darker aspects of the web, as a negative spiral of animosity gathers momentum in suspenseful ways. A tale of terror within this modern digital age, Cloud is another triumph from Kiyoshi Kurosawa that comes alive so thrillingly.
Comments