Watches
February 06, 2024
Takashi Shimizu's latest is a pleasant mix of horror and sci-fi. It harks back to the early J-Horrors (like Ringu and Pulse), but drops the less-is-more aesthetic and goes for a more polished feel. The result is a capable horror film, but one that fails to delight or surprise. I believe it's time for Shimizu to reinvent himself.
A small company is trying to create a virtual reality paradise. They're based on a small island, which they are trying to recreate digitally. Tomohiko is a recruit who joins the team, replacing Ide. He quickly discovers that a ghost haunts the simulations and drowns people who dare to enter.
Immersion is not a bad film, updating some of the tropes and making it a bit more contemporary, while sticking with horror elements that are known to work. The problem is that it's all very much by the numbers, especially for people who've been watching these Japanese horrors for the past two decades. Decent filler, but nothing more.