House
of Sayuri (Original title: Sayuri) | 2024 | 1h 48m
Genre:
Horror/Comedy | Country: Japan
Director:
Kôji Shiraishi | Writers: Mari Asato, Rensuke Oshikiri, Kôji Shiraishi
Cast:
Fusako Urabe, Kitarô, Ryôka Minamide
IMDB:
6
My
Rate: 7/10
Norio and his extended family move into their dream house, without realizing that behind the seemingly perfect walls, disturbances are waiting to take away almost the entire family.
Warning:
Violence scenes, harsh language, smoking, suicideSynopsis:
Norio’s
father buys a large house that has always been the family’s dream and invites
the whole family to live together. However, without them realizing it, the
house hides a dark secret that slowly begins to be felt. From the beginning, an
uneasy atmosphere is sensed by Shun, the youngest child, and also by the
grandmother—a premonition that cannot yet be explained.
Disturbances
start to appear one by one, becoming more noticeable after Keiko, Norio’s older
sister, commits a violent act that she herself is not even aware of. On the
other hand, Nao, Norio’s school friend who has the ability to see things that
are invisible, warns him about the darkness surrounding him. But Norio chooses
to ignore the warning.
Incident
after incident continues to haunt the family, until the father’s death becomes
a point that can no longer be considered a coincidence. Even so, they choose to
stay in the house out of respect for their father’s hard work. A decision born
from respect, but slowly turning into a dangerous gamble when Sayuri does not
stop disturbing and endangering them.
Will
this family be able to survive the terror that has already been waiting inside
their dream house?
Review:
Imagine
saving money with great difficulty just to buy your dream house. But what
welcomes you is not family warmth, but darkness and a curse. Would you let it
go, or keep holding on because of all the sacrifices you’ve made? This is the
premise presented in House of Sayuri (2024), a film that combines horror
tension with unusual comedy.
The
story opens with a tense scene when a mother persuades her child, Sayuri, who
locks herself in the room, to come eat together. Instead of a warm response,
what appears is unexpected violence. From there, the plot moves to the future
when Norio and his family occupy the house. The background of the story is
built quite strongly, giving the impression that something has been waiting for
a long time.
The
introduction of the characters is done neatly even though there are quite many
of them. The audience can still recognize who becomes the center of the story
through dialogue, behavior, and the portion of their appearances. The conflict
rises slowly, from small disturbances to the death of Norio’s father which
becomes an emotional turning point. The house that was once filled with hope
turns into a quiet space filled with loss, until finally Sayuri shows her
presence and opens the veil of the past.
The
story is resolved quite well and in line with expectations. Each character
shows development that can be felt, both those who are still surviving and
those who have gone. The mystery is revealed, revenge finds its path, and each
of them must return to living their lives with marks that can no longer be
erased.
Interestingly,
this film does not completely sink into horror. Halfway through the film,
tension is built through apparitions and frightening sounds that are quite
effective. However, in the latter half, the direction of the story shifts into
absurd and unexpected comedy. This shift makes the film feel unique—although
for some viewers it may feel surprising.
The
grandmother’s character, who from the beginning seems strange—both from her
appearance and her attitude—turns out not to be a technical mistake, but rather
part of a clever humor construction. That is precisely where the cleverness of
this film lies. What initially feels odd slowly becomes the foundation of an
unexpected comedy twist.
From
a technical side, the camera movement, color composition, and use of music
support the atmosphere quite well. Unfortunately, the CGI effects in several
scenes, especially during the fight with Sayuri, look less smooth so it
slightly reduces the intensity.
In
the end, behind the horror and comedy presented, House of Sayuri also
carries a message about how humans face loss and inherited revenge. The meaning
of life in this story does not appear in a preachy way, but rather through the
choices made by the characters. The actors manage to convey this nuance with a
unique acting style, although it does not always feel extraordinary.
The
dream house in this film becomes a symbol that not everything fought for with
great effort will bring happiness. Sometimes, what remains is not a place to
return to, but a space to learn how to let go.
Memorable Scene:
One
of the most memorable scenes is when Norio and his grandmother return to their
house. In an atmosphere that still carries wounds, the grandmother asks Norio
to laugh—a request that sounds simple, but feels very heavy after the terrible
events they experienced. She believes that even forced laughter can become the
beginning of a small step and the strength to survive.
This
scene feels close to reality. Not all happiness is born from a whole heart;
sometimes it begins from small efforts that seem artificial. Maybe from there,
slowly, something broken inside begins to find a gap to heal.
Memorable Dialogue:
"He must know that the revenge of the living is more terrifying."
Ending:
Happy
Ending
Recommendation:
Worth
to Watch
(Aluna)
 – A Haunted House Horror with an Unexpected Comedy Twist){kind=link}
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