Effigy

Effigy is a complex, layered film about a descent into madness involving a cursed object. I noticed echoes of early horror films (Renfield from Dracula was one I thought about) but with modern well-crafted visuals. Lighting, shadows, angles and effects are all strong points. My interest was drawn in with the elements of Japanese, English(American) and Swedish, but with a setting of modern Tokyo. I enjoyed my second viewing from noticing details of foreshadowing, and after thinking about the film for a week or so. I think it's a good accompaniment/lead-in to the Halloween season (viewed Sep-Oct 2024).

Effigy caught my attention for its atmosphere. While I didn't fully absorb the story on my first viewing, its aesthetic and tone stood out. Cairns sets the story in Tokyo but doesn't allow the locale to overshadow the narrative. Themes of greed, detachment, and exploitation weave through the uncanny atmosphere. The language choices, performances, and nighttime settings all heighten the sense of disconnection, with palpable schisms between even physically close characters. We are invited to decipher not only what is said but also what is shown and what is meant. This ambiguity adds a layer of tension and complexity to the film. I prefer to digest films slowly rather than being overwhelmed by an overt message-or lack thereof-and Effigy definitely gave me plenty to ruminate on.

One of the most striking elements was the audio. The layers and textures, combined with droning soundscapes, conveyed an atemporal sense-as if time itself was being blurred. This auditory choice deepened the film's atmosphere, making it easy to lose track of time. That said, the day/night cycles felt significant. They highlighted the contrast between the waking world and the quiet, unsettling stillness of night, contributing to the film's themes of isolation and disconnection.

While Effigy includes subtle nods to 90s J-horror, it deftly avoids the overused tropes of that genre. Its more reflective, unsettling tone and imagery reminded me of films like Under the Skin and Audition, as well as Yoko Ogawa's book The Diving Pool and East of the Sun, West of the Moon. The film's budget is noticeable at times, but it manages to create an intriguing atmosphere, with motifs and motivations that invite further contemplation.

"Effigy" is an great cinematic experience that dove deep into the blurred boundaries between reality, delusion, and the darkest recesses of human desire. This movie was near perfect i felt in blending psychological tension and atmospheric storytelling that left me unable to lose focus from start to finish.

The contrast and interplay between the two characters involved with Catherine are brilliantly portraited for an Indi movie which creates a surreal and unsettling atmosphere that kept me on the edge.

What I felt sets this film in its own light is its ability to seamlessly weave together themes of Catherine's deteriorating mental state that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. The inclusion of grotesque trophies and symbolic elements from her assignments adds a profound layer of depth to the narrative, making every scene rich with meaning.

If you go in expecting a slow burn, something that leans more atmospheric than narrative, I think you'll have a good time. Or, like a disturbing time. Lots of darkness, lots of unsettling soundtrack, and plenty of weird, unsettling affect from the lead - it certainly all combined to give me the heebie-jeebies. For what they were going for, I don't think a standard, dialogue-heavy narrative would have suited the movie - themes of isolation and alienation even when surrounded by people in a huge city. I was in the mood for phantasmagoria tonight, and this fit the bill.

And while I enjoyed it, I hope my review is enough to tell you, dear reader, whether this is a movie you yourself would enjoy. It's not a slasher film, there are no jump scares, and while gross at times, it's more unsettling than anything. And not even really that gory. Just a slowly-ratcheting feeling of unease.

Also, shoutout to Kwaidan, Yuki the Snow Maiden would have loved the spider story in this movie.

If you're in the mood for a dark movie that avoids all the usual horror tropes, a movie that gets under your skin and squirms, even a movie that makes you ask a lot of uncomfortable questions, then Effigy is just what you might be looking for.

First of all it's gorgeously shot which I really appreciate. As a long time Japan resident, I got extra chills with all the near deserted city shots.

Also, I felt the folktale that the protagonist makes up is the heart-thread that holds together the lives and stories of all the characters in the movie, making it a beautiful and beautifully disturbing flick.