Welcome back to the 13th annual Halloween special. I'm very excited about tonight's movie because this is the last film that I have never reviewed that inspired my film Shelby Oaks and that is Naroy. The film is sometimes called Naroy the Curse. A prominent paranormal journalist, Kobayashi, goes missing shortly after completing a documentary. What begins as an investigation into strange noises soon evolves into the chilling mystery of a demonic entity named Kabutaba.
This film greatly inspired me when I was writing Shelby Oaks. This film alongside Lake are my two biggest inspirations for that film. I watched those movies quite a bit and really came to love them. I've said that Lake is one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. But for me, Naroy is even scarier. The mockumentary style achieves a heightened state of realism that most movies are unable to do. I'm avoiding spoilers in this review to encourage those who haven't seen it to check it out.
Something that separates Naroy from most mockumentaries is the usage of different sources, following Kobayashi as he interviews people, and including television footage and psychic studies. This unique storytelling element enhances the horror and authenticity. The film also includes an eerie ritual sequence and local folklore that builds tension and fear in the viewer.
This 2005 film predates many acclaimed horror films and influenced the genre significantly. It offers a rich backstory and sustains tension throughout its two-hour runtime. It's a perfect choice for the spooky season and highly recommended for horror fans.
I do hope you watch No Roy because it is one of my favorite movies. It inspired my film, Shelby Oaks, which comes out October 24th in theaters. Shelby Oaks is an indie movie, and I encourage you to support it at the cineplex to see the impacts of acclaimed films like Naroy on new projects.