Suicide
Forest Village (Original title: Jukai Mura) | 2021 | 1h 57m
Genre:
Folk Horror / Drama / Horror / Mystery | Country: Japan
Director:
Takashi Shimizu | Writers: Daisuke Hosaka, Takashi Shimizu
Cast:
Yumi Adachi, Hideko Hara, Fûju Kamio
IMDB:
5.2
My
Rate: 6/10
Hibiki starts sensing something bad after she, her sister, and their friends accidentally come across a cursed box that connects them to a mysterious village inside the suicide forest. From that moment on, the curse keeps following them—never giving anyone a way out.
Warning:
Contains scenes of self-harm, violence, and suicide
Synopsis:
Terrifying
rumors spread about a hidden village called “Jukai Village,” located deep
inside the Jukai forest—a place known as where many people end their lives.
Akina, a live streamer, tries exploring the forest and suddenly disappears
without a trace, leaving behind a huge question mark. Hibiki, a mystery
enthusiast, becomes a direct witness through Akina’s livestream that cuts off
abruptly.
One
day, Mei—Hibiki’s older sister—asks her to help their childhood friend who just
moved into a new house. They accidentally find an ancient box hidden under the
house, which turns out to have come from Jukai Village. From the moment they
touch it, they don’t realize that a curse has already started following them.
A
series of deaths begins to occur, one by one people around them become victims.
Mei decides to return the box to its origin, but that step ends up revealing a
past connected to both her and Hibiki.
Can
they stop the curse before everything becomes too late?
Review:
Heavy
pressure in life often drives someone to act without thinking and end their
life. Not in crowded places, but deep in a quiet forest where no one can find
them. But deep down, is it true that they don’t want to be found? This question
becomes the foundation Suicide Forest Village tries to explore—a film that uses
the strong premise of Aokigahara and Japan’s high suicide rate.
The
film opens with gripping mystery: two children running out of the forest,
disheveled and terrified. This is followed by a disturbing incident that
befalls Akina, the live streamer, who mysteriously vanishes. These two scenes
manage to build a solid foundation of mystery and establish the story’s
setting. Unfortunately, the execution that follows feels less impactful.
Characters
are introduced one by one slowly. Their backgrounds are only briefly explained,
lacking depth. Their connection as old friends is shown only through a photo,
making the emotional bond feel weak.
The
conflict begins with the appearance of the mysterious box. The fear and danger
ahead are shown right away with a sudden death that happens right in front of
them. However, the inconsistency in character behavior is noticeable. Their
fear doesn’t match the danger they supposedly understand. Hibiki, who is more
perceptive, is dismissed as crazy—reflecting a denial dynamic that’s actually
quite realistic: an attempt to create a sense of safety against something that
makes no logical sense.
The
story ends fairly well with the revelation of hidden mysteries and a small
twist that connects back to the opening scene. The story behind the box is also
explained nicely, with the historical elements wrapped effectively, though the
ending still leaves a few questions.
Technically,
the camera work, lighting, and music are done well. Sadly, the psychological
exploration of the characters is minimal, the acting doesn’t leave a strong
impression, and the monster design doesn’t live up to the strength of the
premise.
Even
though it’s not a horror film that satisfies emotionally or visually, Suicide
Forest Village is still worth watching as a simple reminder: curiosity can
become a doorway to danger that we never actually need to open.
Memorable Scene:
Mei’s
mother chooses to hurt herself—cutting her own finger—to stop Mei from being
trapped forever in the mysterious village. In this scene, we see a decision
that’s quick, painful, but filled with immeasurable love. Behind the horror and
tension, there’s a striking portrayal of a mother’s love: the courage to bear
the pain so her child can be safe. We often forget that in everyday life, there
are many similar sacrifices that go unspoken but are always done.
Memorable Line:
“Sorry, I couldn’t get rid of it.”
Ending:
Cliffhanger
Recommendation:
Okay
to Watch
(Aluna)
 – A Forest, Silence, and Wounds That Can’t Be Seen){kind=link}
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