Photo courtesy of Arrow Films.

Source: Arrow Films, MVD Entertainment
Special Thanks to Derek Stubinski

Remastered from the best available elements and packed with a host of new and archival extras, J-HORROR RISING presents seven of the genre's most distinctive titles in this limited edition set from Arrow Video.

Photo courtesy of Arrow Films.

In the ghostly pastoral horror of SHIKOKU (死国, 1999), a young woman returns after many years to her rural birthplace, only to find her best friend from childhood has died by drowning when just sixteen. The dead girl's mother, the local Shintoist priestess, has embarked on the region's famous pilgrimage - but why is she walking backwards?

The aftermath of the devasting Kobe Earthquake of 1995 creates fissures in the already fractured mind of a high-school girl in ISOLA: MULTIPLE PERSONALITY GIRL (ISOLA 多重人格少女 ISOLA Taju-jinkaku Shojo, 2000), allowing an unwelcome intruder to set up home in her head and leaving a volunteer worker with psychic powers to determine which of her personas is the fake one.

In INUGAMI (犬神, 2001), a teacher finds himself drawn to a local papermaker, only to find himself the subject of some hostility from her extended family, who are rumored to be the descendants of the guardians of ancient evil canine spirits.

Megumi Okina (JU-ON: THE GRUDGE) plays the art designer for a horror-themed videogame in the innovative ST. JOHN'S WORT (弟切草, Otogirisō, 2001), who is forced to confront her childhood traumas when her colleagues ask her to gather visual materials from the creepy gothic mansion she has inherited from her estranged artist father.

CARVED: THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN (口裂け女, Kuchisake-onna, 2007) features the titular predatory murderess drawn from urban legend, where it turns out home isn't the safest place for her potential child victims in this disturbing supernatural horror.

A new craze for wearing ceramic masks sweeps the students of a high school, unleashing a wave of anonymous juvenile delinquency amongst the literal fashion-victims of PERSONA (ペルソナ, Perusona, 2008).

Last but not least, the chilling NOROI: THE CURSE (ノロイ, Noroi, 2005) adopts a pseudo-documentary format as an investigative reporter into paranormal phenomena is forced to confront horrors beyond his wildest imagination after learning about an ancient folkloric demon.

 

J-HORROR RISING Limited Edition Blu-ray

Running Time: 679 Minutes (100 / 94 / 105 / 85 / 90 / 90 / 115 Minutes)
Number of Discs: 4
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Audio: 5.1 / 2.0
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

US

Region Code: 0
SKU: AV617
UPC: 760137164333
Sreet Date: 10/29/24
List Price: $99.95

UK

Region Code: A/B
Product Code: FCD2542
UK Rating: 15
Street Date: 10/28/24
RRP: £59.99

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all seven films
• Original lossless 5.1 and lossless stereo sound options for SHIKOKU, ISOLA: MULTIPLE PERSONALITY GIRL, INUGAMI, ST. JOHN’S WORT, CARVED: THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN and NOROI: THE CURSE, and original lossless stereo audio for PERSONA
• Optional English subtitles for each film
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Eugene Thacker, Jasper Sharp, Anton Bitel, Amber T., Mark Player, Jim Harper and Sarah Appleton
• Double-sided foldout poster featuring newly commissioned artwork by John Conlon
• Limited Edition packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by John Conlon

 

DISC ONE – SHIKOKU / ISOLA: MULTIPLE PERSONALITY GIRL

• Brand new audio commentary on SHIKOKU by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes
• Brand new audio commentary on ISOLA: MULTIPLE PERSONALITY GIRL by critics and Japanese cinema experts Jasper Sharp and Amber T.
• The Aftermath, Tom Mes discusses J-Horror at the turn of the millennium
• Something in the Water, a brand new interview with SHIKOKU director Shunichi Nagasaki
• Archive interviews with director Shunichi Nagasaki and actors Chiaki Kuriyama and Yui Natsukawa on SHIKOKU
• Archive interview with actors Yoshino Kimura and Yu Kurosawa on ISOLA: MULTIPLE PERSONALITY GIRL
• On-set footage of the filming of SHIKOKU
• Original trailers and TV spots for both films
• Image galleries

 

DISC TWO – INUGAMI / ST. JOHN'S WORT

• Brand new audio commentary on INUGAMI by Japanese cinema expert Jonathan Clements
• Brand new audio commentary on ST. JOHN’S WORT by Japanese cinema expert Amber T.
• Dog Days, brand new video interview with INUGAMI director Masato Harada
• The Making of ST. JOHN’S WORT, archival featurette
• Archive interviews with ST. JOHN’S WORT actors Megumi Okina, Koichiro Saito, Reiko Matsuo and Koji Okura
• On-set behind-the-scenes footage of the filming of ST. JOHN’S WORT
• Original trailers and TV spots for ST. JOHN’S WORT
• Image galleries for both films

 

DISC THREE – CARVED: THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN / PERSONA

• Brand new audio commentary on CARVED: THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN by Japanese folklore expert Zack Davisson
• Why So Serious?, a brand new interview with CARVED: THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN director Koji Shiraishi
• Weapon of Choice, a brand new video essay on CARVED: THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN by Japanese horror specialist Lindsay Nelson
• Confessions of a Mask, a brand new interview with PERSONA director Takashi Komatsu
• Image galleries for both films

 

DISC FOUR – NOROI: THE CURSE

• Brand new audio commentary by film critic Julian Singleton
• Director’s POV, a brand new video interview with NOROI: THE CURSE director Koji Shiraishi
• The Man in the Shadows, a brand new interview with NOROI: THE CURSE producer Taka Ichise
• Changing Perspective, a brand new video essay on NOROI: THE CURSE by Japanese horror specialist Lindsay Nelson
• Ectoplasmic Worms, a brand new video essay on NOROI: THE CURSE and Japanese cosmic horror by Japanese cinema expert Amber T.
• How to Protect Yourself Against Curses
• URGENT REPORT! PURSUING THE TRUTH ABOUT KAGUTABA!! TV Special
• Over half an hour of deleted scenes
• Trailers and TV spots
• Image gallery

 

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About Arrow Films

Arrow Films is a leading independent entertainment distribution company, established in 1991. Operating in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, United States of America and Canada, Arrow Films is dedicated to supporting upcoming and established filmmakers of dynamic new cinema and developing an enviable slate of quality films that enjoy a lasting legacy across its award-winning branded labels, channels, and platforms.

About MVD Entertainment Group

MVD Entertainment Group is a full service music and movie distribution firm, exclusively representing thousands of audio and visual products for DVD, Bluray, CD, vinyl, and digital rights, worldwide. MVD also exclusively distributes a growing line of merchandise including limited edition collectibles, tee shirts, and more. “Serving Artists and Audiences” is MVD's purpose statement; it represents a commitment to the interests of the musicians, filmmakers, record labels, producers, managers, and every link in the supply chain. The customers are the Audience, from wholesalers, sub-distributors, major retail chains, online retailers, specialists, and independent mom and pop stores, all the way to the consumer. MVD Entertainment Group was founded in 1986 by Tom Seaman, an industry veteran with prior experience with The Record Hunter, Sam Goody, CBS Retail, and JEM Distribution. Tom, along with his family Elinor, Eve and Ed, initially focused on music videotapes. At the turn of the century, with the advent of DVD, MVD built a large catalog of exclusively distributed audiovisual content on DVDs, with special strength in music concert films, horror movies, documentaries, comedy, cult classics, and much more.