The Spiritual Sequel to 'Cure', Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa: 'Chime'! Press Stills Reveal a Chilling Tension!

The new film 〈Chime〉, which follows in the lineage of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's masterpiece 〈Cure〉, which thrilled genre film fans worldwide, has released six press stills that capture the film's chilling atmosphere. The film 〈Chime〉 tells the story of cooking class instructor Matsuoka, who becomes engulfed in a strange sense of horror after hearing an odd statement from a student about hearing a chime.

The released press stills convey the cold and detached temperature of horror in 〈Chime〉. Characters with vacant stares seem to be entranced, while faces frozen in fear foreshadow the bizarre events that will unfold in the film. In particular, the chilling gaze of someone watching from the darkness creates a sense of tension that sends shivers down the viewer's spine.

〈Chime〉 is receiving significant attention for expanding the spiritual worldview of 〈Cure〉, which brought Kiyoshi Kurosawa's name to global prominence. In particular, both works share the chilling aesthetics of everyday spaces, showcasing its aspect as “the spiritual sequel to 〈Cure〉” (Film Comment). While 〈Cure〉 conveyed horror through an old hospital and ruins, 〈Chime〉 is set in a functional and everyday space: a cooking class. Neatly arranged kitchen knives and organized kitchen tools transform into the most threatening weapons the moment the chime rings out. Kiyoshi Kurosawa draws maximum suspense from the most minimal spaces, once again proving the identity of the 'evil lurking in everyday life' that 〈Cure〉 showcased. Audiences who were captivated by the question “Who are you?” posed by Mamiya in 〈Cure〉 will now witness their daily lives crumbling under the weight of an unknown sound resonating through their brains in 〈Chime〉.

Kiyoshi Kurosawa's overwhelming suspense in 〈Chime〉, which follows in the lineage of 〈Cure〉, will be available in theaters this March.