Rokuroku: The Promise of the Witch
Rokuroku: The Promise of the Witch

Rokuroku: The Promise of the Witch

2018Movie92 minJapanese

A quiet woman receives a social media request from a middle-school friend, who she doesn’t remember fondly. The two meet at a hotel’s restaurant where they find a room numbered 666 containing Rokuroku, a long-neck woman wearing a red kimono.

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Insights

IMDb4.8/10
Director: Tetsuya HattoriGenres: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural

Plot Summary

A group of young people visits a secluded village rumored to be haunted by a Rokurokubi, a mythical yokai with an unnaturally long neck. As they delve deeper into the village's dark secrets and unsettling traditions, they find themselves ensnared in a terrifying curse. The line between folklore and reality blurs as they uncover the horrifying truth behind the witch's promise.

Critical Reception

Rokuroku: The Promise of the Witch received a mixed to negative reception from critics, who generally found the film's premise intriguing but its execution lacking in genuine scares and narrative coherence. Audience reactions were similarly divided, with some appreciating the attempt at a modern take on Japanese folklore, while others criticized its pacing and underdeveloped characters.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film's atmosphere and concept are its strongest points, but it fails to deliver on sustained horror.
  • Some viewers found the visual representation of the Rokurokubi compelling, while others felt it was underutilized.
  • The narrative struggles with pacing and a predictable, unsatisfying conclusion.

Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce and largely unenthusiastic, with many viewers finding the film to be a disappointment in its attempt to modernize a classic Japanese horror trope.

Fun Fact

The film draws inspiration from the Rokurokubi, a yōkai from Japanese folklore that can elongate its neck to an extraordinary length, often used to spy or terrify unsuspecting victims.

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