Running Time: 112 Minutes
Starring: Sara Minami, Aoi Yamada, Oshirō Maeda, Akari Takaishi, Takumi Saitoh
It is a fine line between horror and comedy. Both genres succeed when there is an understanding about timing and pace, resulting in an emotional response provoked that leaves fans returning for more. Maybe that is why figures in comedy move into making horror films, with notable examples including Jordan Peele and Zach Cregger. Next to make the move is Yuriyan Retriever, a popular comedian from Japan who was also a contestant on America's Got Talent, who makes her feature debut with her ghost story, Mag Mag.
The story opens at a school, where a boy is sorting out his hair in the mirror. The moment of vanity is interrupted by a voice in his ear mentioning Mag Mag, a tall spirit that haunts whatever man she falls in love with until the day that he dies. It becomes a terrifying time for the boy as he falls victim to this haunting, and his desperation leads him to try rejecting the ghost, only for the result to leave him dead with his eyes hollowed out mid-urination. This leaves viewers with an unforgettable image of the film's title being spelt out with that spilled urine, a cheeky choice that recalls how Ichi The Killer had its title card appear from another bodily fluid.
The comparison is also appropriate considering this is the first film from K2 Pictures, which was founded by Ichi the Killer director Takashii Miike alongside Hirokazu Koreeda (Shoplifters) and Miwa Nishikawa (Under the Open Sky). The film production fund has positioned themselves as a creator-friendly bridge between independent cinema and financial success, intending to shake up a "production committee" model that is notoriously risk-averse, while competing on a global scale. As their first feature to be released, Mag Mag is a fascinatingly fresh take on J-horror.
Warnings are made clear about the ghost from early on. If you see her, it's too late. If she falls in love with you, the only escape is death. Many victims are followed across the runtime, with the different protagonists including a sculptor who is admired from afar, a wife of an abusive patriarch, and a messy situation involving friends sharing a house. These glimpses showcase the different kinds of love falling victim to this curse, but when so many are rooted in bad relationships, the inclusion of a murderous ghost may be a better outcome. Yet, there is the sense of too many pieces being on the board, something which adds to an overlong runtime and leaves one wishing for a tighter cut due to fewer protagonists.
Of all the leads, the most interesting one is Sanae (Sara Minami), who vows revenge on the ghost after her beloved falls victim to the curse. It's fascinating to see a love-triangle involving one party being dead and another being a vicious spectre, while the curiosity grows more interesting considering the layers that lie within Sanae. A standout sequence involves a prolonged admission of her love, which offers a playful sense of humour amidst increasingly disturbing sights.
The influences are absolutely clear, especially when a cameo appearance is made by Ju-On: The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu, yet what's marvellous is how this is a jumping off point to showcase expected avenues in fresh feeling ways. Screenwriter Eisuke Naito satirizes familiar tropes and includes fun burst of comedy, making for an entertaining time, yet one wishes the creepy parts could appear more continuously. Despite that, Mag Mag is an effective ghost story that balances chills and humorous thrills in an effective package.
Mag Mag made its UK Premiere at FrightFest Halloween 2025
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