The Cursed Sanctuary X

Lore & Background

The film was produced after producer Masaki Koide approached Yu Irie seeking to shoot a film in South Korea. Koide suggested adapting Holy Ground X, despite the play being set in Japan. This was Irie's first horror film, a genre he had previously avoided out of respect for established local filmmakers and because he felt he lacked the know-how. It was also his first film to lack any moral or message. Irie wrote the screenplay to give the film a more otherworldly feel, focusing on inducing anxiety rather than fright. He included aspects of Korean culture, such as a shamanistic exorcism ritual not present in the source material, for which he interviewed mudangs. The film was shot on location in Incheon prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, with a crew comprising both Japanese and Korean members. Irie chose Incheon for its vacation homes and old town. Several actors, including Sho Yakumaru, took contemporary dance lessons as preparation, inspired by the chelfitsch theatre company.

Reader's Guide

The Cursed Sanctuary X represents a notable departure for director Yu Irie, who ventured into horror for the first time while also abandoning his usual inclusion of a moral or message. The film's production in South Korea, with a mixed Japanese and Korean crew, allowed for a flexible schedule and a foreign atmosphere. Critics offered mixed reviews: Fumitake Otsuka of Eiga.com felt Irie attempted to upend audience perceptions, while Hiroyuki Kawai of Raditopi proclaimed it one of the best films of 2021. Reiko Kitagawa and Ryo Chiura of Kinema Junpo gave it 3/5 ratings, with Chiura praising Okada's performance. Koremasa Uno, also of Kinema Junpo, gave it 2/5, criticizing Kawaguchi's performance. The film was billed as extreme horror, though Irie found the label misleading, and stars Okada and Kawaguchi expressed surprise at the trailer's framing. A promotional campaign involving professional wrestlers the Saito Brothers and an image filter was launched in July 2021. The film opened in Japanese theatres and on Telasa on 19 November 2021, and later screened in Taiwan at the 12th Golden Horse Fantastic Film Festival.

Did You Know?

• The film is an adaptation of the Tomohiro Maekawa play Holy Ground X, making it the second Yu Irie film adapted from a Maekawa play after The Sun.
• Director Yu Irie interviewed mudangs (Korean shamans) for a shamanistic exorcism scene not present in the original play.
• The film was shot on location in Incheon, South Korea, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• A promotional campaign featuring professional wrestlers the Saito Brothers was launched in July 2021, with footage uploaded to a YouTube channel.