Audiences at this year’s SXSW had the chance to see the world premiere of a thrilling new Japanese horror film, Never After Dark. Writer and director Dave Boyle (House of Ninjas, Man From Reno) combines supernatural terror with a killer mystery. A traveling medium is hired to rid a house in the remote Japanese countryside of a frightening spirit. What begins as a typical job soon becomes deadly as past horrors come crashing into the present.

Over the years, Japanese horror has found new and exciting ways to tell ghost stories. Never After Dark is no different. Boyle takes his time introducing the audience to Airi, the traveling medium, and the mother-son pair who has hired her. Set at a large, secluded house that was once a hotel, the real terror begins once Airi is alone in the house ready to get to work. The ghost she’s been hired to help cross over isn’t like the ones she’s worked with before. It’s far more dangerous, which leads to Airi digging into the home’s history as she unravels the mystery. Boyle does a phenomenal job of crafting an intricate plot, filled with twists and turns to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. He also incorporates a rich, unique mythos. Airi has a specific ritual she conducts when working with spirits, which includes a few eye-catching items as well. It makes Never After Dark feel quite original in how this medium gets the job done and in how ghosts are portrayed.

Never After Dark features a small cast, but each performance is wonderful. Moeka Hoshi (Shōgun, The Woman in the Lakes) stars as Airi. Airi is a nomad, traveling from place to place as she is hired to rid places of lingering spirits. Hoshi conveys a certain sense of confidence and stoicism, but beneath it all there is fear and trauma that comes to the surface as this job proves to be out of the ordinary. Kurumi Inagaki (Two Weeks, Ensemble) plays Airi’s spectral sister, Miku. While Inagaki isn’t in the film much, her presence leaves a lasting impression. She balances being a typical child with the gravity of her and her sister’s gift. Mutsuo Yoshioka (Cloud, Uncle’s Paradise) plays the mysterious man haunting the rural home. Yoshioka might not speak much throughout the film, but he chews up every scene he’s in. He easily delivers an imposing, sinister edge to his character, helping bring to life a frightening entity. Other great performances come from Tae Kimura (Zero Focus) and Kento Kaku (House of Ninjas) as the mother and son who hired Airi.

The teams working on the visual elements of Never After Dark did a fantastic job. Right away, the location sets the mood. The large home and former hotel is gorgeous with lots of beautiful, dark wood throughout. Yet the rural setting and eerie quiet make it seem as though something is watching and waiting. This extends to the grounds as well, especially where a rundown former chapel sits empty and in disrepair. Much of the visual interest surrounds Airi. Audiences will likely notice the wig used to create an odd haircut for the Airi. At first it seems like a strange choice, but as we learn more about her ritual for speaking to the dead, it begins to make more sense. The tools of her trade also add some visual interest with a pair of beautiful old scissors, a tall candlestick with a fat and heavily melted candle, and a reflective wheel that spins to create a haunting moving image. Then, of course, there are the wonderful practical effects. The spirit Airi is trying to free has a terrifying, grotesque look that’s as striking as it is horrifying. This is achieved with very well executed practical effects. Throughout the film there are other wounds and injuries of varying severity, each done to look as real as possible. All of these visuals take a fairly familiar story and make it unique.

Never After Dark is a frightening rural ghost story that manages to deliver the unexpected into the J-horror subgenre. Boyle isn’t worried about having ghosts jump out to scare audiences. Instead, he created an intricate plot filled with unique rituals, fascinating lore, and plenty of surprises. The film features a great cast with Hoshi being the undoubted star, delivering a phenomenal performance. With a location that is almost a character itself and expertly crafted practical effects, there is a lot to love about this supernatural horror. If you missed Never After Dark at this year’s SXSW, be sure to keep an eye on it as it continues on the festival circuit in case it plays in a city near you. And of course, be sure to look for Never After Dark when it eventually hits streaming.

OVERALL RATING: 8/10