N-Goto (N Building)

 

N-Goto (N Building) | Magis TV

2022 • Japanese Horror/Supernatural • Movie

Please be aware that this review will contain spoilers; proceed with caution. 

"N-Goto" is a Supernatural horror film from Japan. It was directed by Yuko Goto and produced by Eiichi Sugaya.

A young woman with a condition called 'Thanataphobia' or (Fear of dying), is still in love with her ex-boyfriend (Keita), who currently has a girlfriend. Her ex-boyfriend goes to stay at her home, often being unaware that his current girlfriend is already aware of his infidelity. Since her childhood, the main character (Shiori) has struggled with 'thanatophobia'.

This often perturbs her thoughts and causes insomnia. She is constantly thinking about what death is like, and she wonders if the afterlife truly exists. Her ex-boyfriend decides to make a horror film for his thesis. He plans to go to a haunted apartment complex with his girlfriend, but Shiori ends up tagging along.

Upon reaching the apartment complex, which is thought to be abandoned, they meet the landlord, who at first glance seems very menacing. Sochiro suddenly mentions to the landlord that she is looking to move, and upon hearing this, the landlord grins and offers to give them a tour of the only apartment that is vacant.

Upon arriving at the building, they notice that the stairwell is full of debris and dead birds, yet this does not deter them. The complex itself is small, dark, and decrepit. The landlord offers to leave to give them some space to properly view the apartment. After leaving them alone for some time, he then comes back and takes them to the rooftop of the building.

On the roof, they find other people who are living in the apartments. They are briefly introduced to them, and they are invited to stay the night. The landlord and the inhabitants offer to throw them a welcoming party in their honor. During the party, strange things start to happen. The party is held inside the vacant apartment. They are also told that it is forbidden to leave the apartment complex at night. Maho (Keita's girlfriend) suddenly blurts out that the real reason they are there is that they came to film a horror documentary. You would think that this would upset the inhabitants, but instead, this ends up exciting them. Cue disturbing scenes of the inhabitants being dragged out of their apartment, and some even committing murder or suicide.

This is a definite rewatch. I give this movie 8 bones out of 10!

Note

Shiori is somehow really drawn to the apartment and its inhabitants. She is willing to risk her friend's lives in order to find the hidden truth. I don't want to say much as the ending of this movie is open for interpretation. I found an online link where you can view the movie. The link has been included below.

Rating | 8/10 • 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

Trailer/Information:

Link to watch film:

https://www.bilibili.tv/en/video/2044726229

We Need To Talk About Kevin

 

We Need To Talk About Kevin | Magis TV

2011 • Psychological Thriller • Movie

Please be aware that this review will contain spoilers; proceed with caution. 

“We Need To Talk About Kevin” is a psychological thriller starring Tilda Swinton, Ezra Miller, and John C. Reilly. It was written and directed by Lynne Ramsay, and it was nominated for 3 BAFTA awards. This movie is about the complicated relationship that Kevin has with his mother.

As the movie is rolling, you see a large crowd of people. Within that crowd, you spy Tilda Swinton crowdsurfing amongst them. She is living her youth to the fullest, enjoying every moment, and the camera pans to a scene where she is obviously with her lover, dancing in the streets of some European city. Enter a scene of heavy lovemaking, and then you can see the main character looking at herself in a mirror, and she is pregnant.

As the movie continues, you see different scenes of Kevin as a baby and then as an adult. Whenever he is in a scene with his mother, you can feel the heaviness in her heart, the way that she rejects him, and the way that she despises him. She tries to love him, but it’s pretty much impossible. As he grows up, he makes her life a living hell until it gets to the point where she is actually in hell, a hell caused by her son.

Kevin’s father is always affectionate towards him, yet Kevin has always rejected his mother and his little sister. Only his mother knows his true darkness because his father refuses to see it.

This is a definite rewatch. I give this movie 10 bones out of 10!

Note

Here, I would like to apologize profusely for being so late in posting reviews. Although this may be too much information, I am sharing it anyway. I suffer from anxiety, and while lately it has not been as bad due to some habits that I am trying to change, it is still a part of my life. Often, I think of doing things (really anything) and then end up not doing them because I get lost in my thoughts.

What led to Kevin’s psychotic behavior? Was it because his mother never loved him? My honest opinion is that while some factors may have led to his psychosis, some people are just born evil. Some people just lack emotion and empathy; there is no rhyme or reason. Kevin relished making his mother squirm; it fed his sadistic ego. He enjoyed knowing that only his mom knew the chilling tale of who he really was. Had she truly known what he was capable of, do you think she could have stopped him? Do you think she would have stopped him?

I can elaborate on Kevin's blood-curdling acts, but then you'd know too much, and you'd skip watching this movie altogether. That is what gets you, the not knowing.

Thanks to the follower who recommended this movie to me; it checked all of the boxes, it stirred me emotionally, it entertained me endlessly, and it helped me sleep like a baby. What I loved most about this film is that even though there were small glimpses of the horrors that Kevin inflicted upon his family, the true horror was not shown until later on in the film. As I'm writing this, I am feeling half-dead while I am enjoying a bowl of mac and cheese. My hope is that my memories of Kevin and this meal will slowly but surely bring me back to life.

I look forward to more of your recommendations!

Rating | 10/10 • 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

Trailer: