House of Sayuri was a surprise hit from the Imagine Fantastic Film Festival. Well… for me, and I am so glad I didn’t read anything about it because I was doubly surprised. Kôji Shiraishi (think Noroi: The Curse) directs this horror comedy about a family who moves into their dream home and is haunted by the ghost of a young girl. House of Sayuri is a fantastical ride of laughing, gasping, cringing, and ghost revenging.
Welcome Home
First, I will watch any haunted house movie when I find one. Throw in a little girl ghost, and I am leaning all the way in. Fortunately, the tropes were troping in the most wholesome of film intros. Kôji Shiraishi lays it on thick with the charming three-generation Kamiki family. Dad rejoices over their dream home, as it was quite the steal! The kids get new rooms, and G-ma and G-pa finally have their own safe space. The Kamikis have the perfect, loving home, and Mom and Dad can care for their elderly parents, especially Grandma, who suffers from dementia. By the way, Grandma looks slightly out of place with the wig, so I knew we’d get back to her.
Almost immediately, there are strange noises and flickering lights. Enter revenge spirit. This is the standard gameplay, but everything great about this movie was purposeful and intrigued me. We have 7 happy Kamiki family members in one super haunted house with an angry spirit. Grandma is talking to ghosts, and the rest of the family remains blissfully unaware. After all, she’s usually confused.
At school, Norio (played by Ryoka Minamide), the teenage son, has captured the attention of a quiet and shy classmate named Sumida (portrayed by Hana Kondo). Sumida is a psychic and sees that Norio’s family is in trouble. I love psychics, and thanks to clever writing, she adds a bit of calmness to the ensuing chaos. Also, this leads to a budding romance filled with hilarious and embarrassing interactions. Now it will be up to Norio, along with some unexpected allies, to save the day.
Get Out
Thanks to the chismosa next door, they learn that previous families had fled the home quickly. This family is sweet and revenge spirits, well they can get carried away. You might get a few silly kills from your average horror comedy, but this one said they could do us one better. This ghost is pissed! Once they see a large, heavy figure draped in shadows and watch their sister get possessed, it’s too late.
Unfortunately, it’s the Kamikis on the chopping block. And this is where the horror fans can sit back and enjoy the show. The kills are sick. At one point, I said that one death was particularly gruesome and couldn’t be better, and then they doubled down and did it again. The youngest child isn’t immune to this either, and family members start dropping like flies. When the violence is turned up, Gramma pulls a Grandpa Joe with the Golden Ticket. Plus, if you need a good laugh, a perfectly timed tai chi montage is essential.
This House is Clean
Once I started laughing, I knew House of Sayuri wasn’t what I would expect at all. The sudden change in tone was surprising and smart, making this movie all the more thrilling. I found it fascinating how the scenes shifted drastically in mood, moving from chilling and serious to comedic and even awkward. However, everything moved fluidly and kept up my excitement. By the third act, I was anticipating surprises coming from every direction. Hilariously, I thought one of the main characters would turn into a ghost.
Finally, Sayuri’s origin story is tragic and heartbreaking. The memories are dark, and at times, the humor is darker. While some situations are absurd and outrageous, they prevent the movie from slipping into bleakness. The pacing moves quickly, and the different tones blend nicely. Additionally, the sound design is nerve-wracking. There is an echoing girl’s laugh that isn’t frightening on its own but repeated to a maddening degree and makes for some truly unsettling moments.
Add House of Sayuri to your watchlists, and expect the unexpected. Check out these other reviews from Imagine Fantastic Film Festival for new films to keep on your radar.
