How did a single ‘Big in Japan’ videotape change the course of global horror history? Find out in this insightful documentary charting the origins, evolution and diffusion across the world of a distinctive brand of Japanese supernatural chillers featuring vengeful ghosts manifesting themselves through contemporary technology against a backdrop of urban alienation and social decay. From PSYCHIC VISION: JAGANREI (1988) and straight-to-video SCARY TRUE STORIES to such key titles as RING (1998), PULSE (2001) and THE GRUDGE (2002), critics and filmmakers reflect on how the bleak Dystopian visions and unsettling atmospheres infiltrated their way into the world’s shocker consciousness.
Akira, a teacher from Tokyo, has just arrived in a small rural town to begin his new job. Soon after arriving, he meets, and begins to fall for, Miki, a papermaker and part of a large and unusual family. When he learns of an ancient legend that the family carries the curse of the Inugami, or Dog God, he brushes it off as silly superstition. After a series of mysterious deaths, however, the townspeople begin to grow restless, and Akira must confront the truth about Miki and her family.
A estudante Mai Takano tenta encontrar a verdade por trás da morte misteriosa de seu amado Ryuji. Ela começa a procurar o vídeo supostamente possuído pelo espírito de Sadako, o qual, acredita-se, tem o poder de matar qualquer pessoa uma semana depois de tê-lo assistido.
Após a morte de Tomoko Oishi, uma repórter, Reiko Asakawa, ouve histórias de um vídeo que mata quem o vê uma semana exatamente após assisti-lo. No início não dá importância aos rumores, mas ao descobrir que um amigo de Tomoko, que assistiu o vídeo, morreu exatamente uma semana depois ela começa a investigar. Após ver a fita estranhas coisas começam a acontecer.
