J-Horror Rising: Arrow Video Blu-ray Review

Some of the most nightmarish films in cinema history come from Japan. Films like The Ring, The Audition, The Grudge, One Missed Call, Dark Water just to name a few.  These and many other films are so disturbing that they literally can scar the minds of the viewers. You will never forget what you see in these films.

Well, Arrow Video just in time for Halloween 2024 have decided to release a collection of 7 Japanese horror films newly restored and on Blu-ray for the first time ever in one collection. This new Blu-ray set is entitled J-Horror Rising! 

Our Rating System:
****=Don’t Miss it!
***=Worth a look.
**=An Ok way to spend an evening.
*=You haven’t missed anything.

SHIKOKU (1999) When Hinako was a child she was separated from Fumiya and Sayori as she moved to Tokyo. Now she has returned to Shikoku, but it turns out that Sayori drowned. When Hinako starts seeing Sayori in her dreams, she seeks help from Fumiya. **

ISOLA: MULTIPLE PERSONALITY GIRL (2000) When a woman, able to read the thoughts of others, comes to help survivors of the 1995 Kobe earthquake, she encounters a girl with Multiple Personality Disorder whose dangerous 13th personality, Isola, must be stopped. **

INUGAMI (2001) Akira, the young new schoolteacher in town falls for secretive Miki, an older woman who takes care of her family's urn that supposedly holds a forest wolf-spirit, inugami. People soon start disappearing and the town blames Akira. ***

ST. JOHN'S WORT (2001) A game designer, and his girlfriend Nami, drive out to a decrepit mansion she just inherited, to film backgrounds for a new video game called St. John's Wort. **

CARVED: THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN (2007) A suburban town in Japan is the victim of what is supposedly just an urban legend, a woman's spirit with a horribly disfigured face who is intent on kidnapping children for unknown reasons. **

PERSONA (2000) When a student by the name of Danda adopts a porcelain mask as a direct result of school bullying, he spurs on a large majority of fellow students to do the same thing. **

THE CURSE (2005) 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 Kagutaba. ***

Now while none of these films may be on anyone's top list of Japanese horror films, there is no denying that these films are filled with terrifying imagery and stories that will scar your imagination.

Arrow Video have remastered these film and transferred them to Blu-ray in 1080p. The audio is the 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. There is also the optional English subtitles for each film.

These films look crisp and clean and are look amazing in HD! But 7 beautifully restored Japanese horror films are not all that is included in this set. Arrow Video added some amazing bonus features. Take a look at what is included on these Blu-ray discs.


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

Now in addition to all these amazing on disc bonus features. This deluxe 4-disc Blu-ray set includes some additional physical features as well. 

* 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

This is a tremendous box set for Halloween season. 7 feature length horror films all in one collection. Tons of bonus features of audio commentaries, interviews, featurettes and so much more. Arrow Video really has produced a Blu-ray set that Japanese horror film fans will go ape for!

So, if you love Japanese horror this new Blu-ray set J-Horror Rising is an absolute must own for your collection. There is so much entertainment for your dollar, you can't go wrong here! Head over to MVD Shop or Amazon and order your copy today!

Out of 4 Film Reels (4 Being the Best) J-Horror Rising Blu-ray receives.....