Occult is a 2009 Japanese Found Footage film written and directed by Kôji Shiraishi (who also made Ju-Rei, but is best known for Noroi: The Curse). He also appears briefly As Himself.
In 2005, a man named Ken Matsuki kills two people and injures a third in a mass stabbing at a resort; killing himself right after that by jumping off a cliff. A documentary crew led by Koji Shiraishi attempts to chronicle the events and get in contact with the event's survivor, Shohei Eno, a strange, currently unemployed man who had a hieroglyph carved on his back during the attack, As the crew begins following him, he purpots to have been experiencing miracles ever since the attack and that he may have received a message from "God" to perform a "ceremony".
Tropes
- And I Must Scream: It's revealed in the ending that Eno has condemned himself and his victims to a completely nightmarish, Lovecraft-esque realm where they are tormented by leech and jellyfish-like creatures; Eno himself even calls it hell as he begins to screams for help.
- Animal Motifs: Leeches. Both literally and metaphorically, they're associated with Hiruko.
- Arc Words: "It's your turn now."
- Arc Symbol: The complex hieroglyphics in Eno's stab wound, in the first killer's birthmark, and on the mountain.
- Ascend Toa Higher Plane Of Existence: Eno reveals that he intends to do this by killing himself and others with a suicide bomb to send himself and his victims to Hiruko's realm, which he considers to be a paradise. He also tells Shiraishi that this is what happened to Matsuki after his attack at the sightseeing resort when he seemingly killed himself by jumping from the rocks into the ocean. Unfortunately for Eno, he later discovers that it's the exact opposite of paradise.
- Callousness Towards Emergency: Shiraishi opts not to call the police or intervene in any way despite his strong suspicion that a massacre is coming, which happens.
- The Cameo: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, director of Kairo and Cure (both of which are influences on the film), appears As Himself as an expert and helps the characters to unravel their meanings.
- Carved Mark: The symbol, which the first killer had as a birthmark, and which he cut into Eno, embodying that the curse had been passed on.
- Cosmic Horror Story: It's gradually revealed by the events of the story are being caused by leech-like entities that seem to beyond human understanding.
- Downer Ending: Eno kills himself and 108 people in his bombing, and Shiraishi serves 21 years in prison for his complicity in Eno's attack. When he serves his time, he discovers that Eno has condemned himself and his victims to be eternally tormented by the leech-like entities in Hiruko's realm, which turns out to be a hellish place.
- Psychic Dreams for Everyone: Almost all the characters concede to have "feelings" about the mountain where the murder occurred, compulsions to go there, and visions.
- Shout-Out: The director and Eno-kun go to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and talk about how much they'd like to see it again. It may qualify as a Take That! given the context.
- Suicide Attack: Eno reveals he intends to kill himself and others with a suicide bombing on a busy street in Shibuya so he and his victims can be sent to Hiruko's realm. He goes through with it near the end.
