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Marebito is a Japanese horror film, released in 2004, directed by Takashi Shimizu and starring Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Tomomi Miyashita, and Kazuhiro Nakahara. This psychological horror film takes its viewers on a terrifying journey of a freelance cameraman, Masuoka (Shin'ya Tsukamoto), who becomes obsessed with finding the truth behind the existence of life and death.

The story starts with Masuoka sneaking into a subway tunnel in Tokyo and stumbling upon a girl chained to the wall. He saves her but is confused by her strange appearance and behavior. When he tries to interview her about her life, she jumps off the balcony and kills herself. Masuoka is haunted by her death and becomes obsessed with the concept of fear and the unknown. He decides to capture the essence of real fear and sets off on a journey into the depths of the Tokyo underground.

As he ventures deeper into the subway tunnels, Masuoka discovers a hidden world inhabited by strange creatures, where he meets a naked girl who he names F. She has never seen the outside world and looks like a vampire or demon. Masuoka starts to believe that F is the key to unlocking the mysteries of life and death. He takes her to his apartment and keeps her locked up, treating her like a science experiment. It soon becomes clear that F needs blood to survive, and Masuoka starts to lose his grip on reality as he becomes more and more obsessed with her.

As Masuoka continues to film F, strange things start to happen. He becomes convinced that the footage he is capturing will bring him fame and fortune, but his emotional and mental state start to deteriorate as he becomes more entrenched in the underworld. His obsession with F and his desire to know more about this hidden world lead him to the brink of madness.

The film is a dark journey into Masuoka's mind as he confronts his fears and tries to unravel the mystery of F and the world beneath the surface. It is a psychological horror that explores the darker aspects of the human mind, raising questions about what lies behind the veil of reality.

One of the most notable things about Marebito is the way it is shot. The claustrophobic, murky tunnels of the Tokyo subway system are depicted in the film with an eerie, dream-like quality. The colors are muted, and the lighting is often very low, creating a sense of terror and uncertainty. The film's score is haunting and minimal, adding to the overall atmosphere of dread.

Shin'ya Tsukamoto delivers a standout performance as Masuoka, portraying the character's descent into madness and obsession with a quiet intensity. Tomomi Miyashita is also excellent as F, imbuing her with a childlike innocence that is at odds with her demonic appearance.

As the film progresses, the line between reality and hallucination becomes blurred, making it difficult to discern what is truly happening and what is a product of Masuoka's increasingly unhinged mind. This adds an extra layer of terror to the film, as it becomes clear that no one, not even the audience, is safe from Masuoka's obsession.

Overall, Marebito is a well-executed horror film that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. It is a dark and unsettling journey into the unknown, exploring the darkest recesses of the human mind. Shimizu creates a palpable sense of fear and unease throughout the film, and the conclusion of the story will likely leave viewers shaken. For fans of psychological horror, Marebito is a must-watch.

Marebito is a 2004 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 50.