An undisputed master of contemporary Japanese horror films,
Shinya Tsukamoto specializes in a kind of physical brand of terror; the fear
he creates crawls in deep under the skin. Here, a man (played by Tsukamoto himself)
awakens in a cramped, featureless space; he has no idea how he got there, and
even less of an idea how to get out. Each move brings on new dangers and the
threat of an even worse confinement. Shooting on digital, Tsukamoto gives the
audience a remarkable, terrifying intimacy with his character, as we seem to
feel his breath and value each new inch of space he discovers. There’s
little gore in the film, just an overwhelming sense of dread. Watching Haze is
an amazing and deeply unsettling experience—you’ll be grateful it’s
under an hour long. 49 min. Japan, 2005.
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