Filmmaker Kurosawa Kiyoshi accordingly remarked that he felt somewhat constrained by making this as a TV movie, being unable to include more violent scenes. Yet violence isn't really so completely predominant in his films after all, and inasmuch as his works bear a common look and feel, 'Séance' otherwise certainly looks and feels like Kurosawa. The tone is generally muted, the production values are a secondary concern, the plot development is somewhat soft, scattered, or nebulous to one degree or another if not also the plot itself, and some familiar faces join his cast. Though actually, whatever the particulars of how it was made, I think this 2000 release is surely one of the man's tighter and more cohesive endeavors. No few of his projects filmed for the big screen struggle with story ideas that are helplessly vague (and I don't even mean 'Charisma' or 'Serpent's path'), with some instances being worse than others, but his adaptation of Mark McShane's novel boasts a concrete plot that just takes its time to entirely crystallize. To much the same point, the horror vibes tend to be subtler and sparser here than elsewhere in the man's varied oeuvre in a story that is more purely dramatic, but they are definite all the same, and one way or another the picture gets unexpectedly dark.
It seems a step too far to say that this is one of Kurosawa's foremost successes, but it's solidly made and written, and increasingly engrossing as the tale progresses. In fact, not to discount anyone else's contributions, but the screenplay co-written with Onishi Tetsuya is a core strength in these ninety-seven minutes: when sound technician Koji and psychic wife Junko unwittingly get involved in a serious situation, they intend to use the scenario to their advantage to illustrate her abilities, but things go awry and there are more surprises in store for the couple. Beyond selfishness, shortsightedness, and maddening guilt the feature touches upon crushed aspirations and the hopeless emptiness of modern life, and how even kind and well-meaning people can stumble down a forsaken path. There is plentiful substance even in these themes, and in the characterizations, but the narrative is firmly compelling and absorbing, not least with a distinct psychological edge to it - and with the further genre flavors that Kurosawa and Onishi infused into the material, this absolutely produces some palpable chills over time. Further benefiting from strong scene writing and the filmmaker's steady, insightful guidance as director, the sum total leans more toward drama than horror, but ultimately is even better than I'd hoped.
Provided gratifyingly sure-footed writing and direction, the rest of the production is just as terrific. The cast give excellent performances of range and personality, with Fubuki Juna and prolific Yakusho Koji naturally standing out most both for their prominence and on their own merits. Gary Ashiya's music only irregularly rears its head, but where it does the score is a superb complement to the proceedings as it lends to the uneasy atmosphere. The same definitely goes for the sound design, and sound effects; judiciously employed in this ghost story, they unquestionably have impact. From production design and art direction, to costume design, to the sparing stunts and visual effects, everything looks and sounds quite sharp. It's a quieter variety of horror flick, but most assuredly kith and kin with much of what else Kurosawa has given us, and we get all that we came for. One way or another I don't think it's an outright must-see, but anyone who is open to titles of such a tenor will find a lot to appreciate in 'Séance,' and I don't think there are any specific criticisms to impart, either. I sat with mixed expectations, and I'm very pleased with how good this is. Don't necessarily go out of your way for it, but this I'm inclined to think this is one of the filmmaker's sturdier films, and 'Séance' is well worth checking out if you have the opportunity.
