Though House of Sayuri starts strong, a severe tonal shift undermines the film’s impressive horror elements and the ghost’s poignant backstory.
Director: Kōji Shiraishi
Genre: Horror
Run Time: 108′
Fantasia Premiere: August 2, 2024
Japan Release Date: August 23, 2024
U.S./U.K. Release Date: TBA
House of Sayuri starts in typical haunted house horror fashion. A family (in this case, the Kamikis) moves to a spacious home in a beautiful location. They’ve envisioned this moment for a long time, and their dream of a better life has finally come to fruition. However, strange events start to occur after they settle into their new residence. Later, they discover that their abode is haunted by the ghost of a girl who was murdered in the dwelling many years prior.
Though the Kamikis’ new house sits in a peaceful area surrounded by greenery, its isolated location evokes a sense of unfamiliarity and vulnerability. Inside the home, the interior is drab and characterless. Hallways are dark and narrow, and with every step, the floorboards creak. Come nightfall, the dimly lit space only adds to the residents’ sinister surroundings, and you never know what could be lurking around a corner. It’s the perfect setting for paranormal activity to unfold, and House of Sayuri seamlessly utilizes its eerie backdrop.
Not long after the Kamikis move in, the evil spirit, Sayuri, takes a liking to the family’s daughter, Keiko. The ghost becomes increasingly hostile, and the family haunting escalates. Kōji Shiraishi’s latest feature starts strong, as House of Sayuri slowly builds dread and creates an incredibly unsettling atmosphere. The film’s disturbing imagery and unnerving sound design elevate the horror elements, and a creepy laugh (you’ll know when you hear it) will stick in your mind well after the credits roll. It’s incredibly chilling and hard to forget.
I was also surprised by House of Sayuri’s violence and how intense and unsettling some of the killings are. Shiraishi certainly doesn’t shy away from graphic scenes when showcasing some of the murders that take place, and no character is safe or off limits. From then on, I was eager for the story to explore the ghost’s origin and for the movie to share with viewers what led to the creation of such evil.
However, once the film’s second act arrives, House of Sayuri has an abrupt tonal shift and delves into a straight-up comedy. Given the film’s solid setup, this decision is highly perplexing and completely took me out of the movie. What starts as a spooky horror film in which characters fear for their lives and are preyed on by a violent ghost turns into an exaggerated, lighthearted grandmother and grandson revenge team-up against the evil entity. Suddenly, our protagonists believe that if they embrace positivity and act unafraid of the spirit, her power will diminish and give them the upper hand. Characters also seem to get over deaths miraculously, and in the aftermath of loss, minimal emotion is reflected through the surviving family members. There are no signs of mourning or grief, which is unrealistic and artificial.
What is even more frustrating is that when Sayuri’s backstory is uncovered, the reasoning behind her death and what led to the event is incredibly poignant. However, the reveal doesn’t have the intended impact, as just moments before the audience learns of the tragic revelation, the narrative is in full-on playful mode. This is a great shame, as profound insights are overshadowed by an unnecessary comedic tonal shift that should never have occurred in the first place.
While House of Sayuri was one of my most anticipated films of Fantasia, as I am a big fan of Shiraishi’s previous feature, Noroi: The Curse, the director’s latest project is bewildering. The decision to abruptly shift from horror to comedy halfway through the feature not only results in tonal disarray but negatively impacts a film with a perfect setup that had the potential to be something great.
House of Sayuri premiered at the Fantasia Film Festival on August 2, 2024. Read our review of Self Driver!
