This summer, horror fans are in for a treat as Shudder turns up the terror with a Japanese horror film so twisted and unsettling it'll leave you questioning what you just witnessed. Check out the movie's eerie trailer below, and you'll understand what I mean.
Titled Best Wishes to All, you can tell from the trailer alone that this chilling Japanese horror will deliver a tense and disturbing experience. In fact, the horror film was awarded the title of "Scariest Feature" at this year's Overlook Film Festival. That should already tell you everything you need to know. Based on the trailer, viewers can expect to be immersed in a nightmare that will hold their attention from start to finish.
Yûta Shimotsu is behind this movie as director, marking it as his first feature, with Rumi Kakuta penning the script. Japanese horror master Takashi Shimizu, who is best known for being the creator of the Ju-On horror franchise, is signed on as an executive producer. It's based on Shimotsu's prize-winning horror short film of the same name and revolves around a young nursing student who is confronted with a shocking reality when she visits her grandparents in the countryside and uncovers the dark secrets behind their seemingly happy life.
The young woman was expecting a peaceful and ordinary experience while visiting her grandparents. However, she ends up discovering unsettling and surprising truths about their life that unravel the facade of their happiness. Kotone Furukawa stars in the leading role as the nursing student.
Truthfully, the idea of being in a situation like the one shown in the movie's trailer is absolutely terrifying. You go in expecting a warm, wholesome visit with your seemingly normal grandparents, only to uncover a dark, unsettling secret that turns your entire sense of reality and security upside down. This is the type of film that, after you finish watching, will leave you questioning the very nature of trust and safety, making you wonder if those closest to you could be hiding something far darker than you ever imagined. I'm creeped out just thinking about it!
If Best Wishes to All sounds like a movie you'd want to watch, make sure to mark your calendar for Friday, June 13, 2025. This is when the horror film is set to be released on Shudder.
Stay tuned to 1428 Elm for more horror movie recommendations!