Official Fantasia synopsis from program notes written by Rupert Bottenberg:
There’s a rumour going round about a cursed tree standing in the middle of a supposedly haunted cemetery, deep in the forest. For Shota and his university friends, it’s a chance to tempt fate and give themselves a proper scare by visiting this legendary spot in the dead of night. Once there, their courage immediately falters at the gloomy sight of the place. There is also the abnormally deafening sound of cicadas, which adds to the eerie aspect of the site. Things quickly spiral out of control for the four of them, as one of them, Ann, starts babbling strange words and behaving completely irrationally.
Review
Famed J-horror filmmaker Takashi Shimizu (The Grudge franchise, Ox-Head Village, Sana) helms The Mouths (Japan, 2026), an intriguing approach to the genre that feels somewhat uneven in its pacing and approach but that also delivers some solid chills.
The ensemble cast members are all solid in their roles, but some of the characters seem underdeveloped. The confessional scenes, often shot in extreme close-ups on mouths and other facial features, provide exposition but also slow down the proceedings at times. It’s a unique approach but viewer mileage will likely vary on how effective it is.
When it comes to eeriness, though, Shimizu delivers it in spades, and this is where The Mouths really shines. Whether it is in the creepy forest of cicada-filled trees or on the main characters’ university campus, the director shows why he is renowned as a master of fright fare.
Combining psychological suspense with otherworldly frights, Sekiro: No Defeat provides an offbeat approach that J-horror aficionados will certainly want to seek out.
The Mouths screens as part of Fantasia 2026, which runs July 16–August 2 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
