Kiyoshi Kurosawa Returns with U.S. Trailer for Cloud

      It is truly a delight to witness Kiyoshi Kurosawa during his Hong Sangsoo phase. The normally prolific director had a particularly fruitful 2024, presenting his impressive film Chime; a commendable remake of his significant 1998 work, Serpent’s Path; and Cloud, which initially reflects his horror origins before evolving into an intense action film. Following its appearance at fall festivals, Cloud is set to debut in the U.S. on July 18 through Janus Films and Sideshow, accompanied by a new trailer.

      Here’s the overview: “A sleek, subversive thriller from suspense innovator Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cure, Pulse), focusing on Yoshii, a young factory worker from Tokyo who is ambitious yet lacks direction. He engages in the shadowy world of black market reselling, deceiving both buyers and sellers. After conning his way into a fortune, he begins to detach from humanity, relocating from the city, distancing himself from his girlfriend, and employing a loyal assistant. However, as a series of eerie and ominous events unfold, he starts to suspect that his previous victims may be orchestrating the ultimate retribution. A master of building tension to a bloody climax, Kurosawa offers a sharp depiction of digital avarice and retribution.”

      As Rory O’Connor remarked in his review from Venice, “While we may not have reached the late-period Kurosawa phase just yet, there are already hints of his unpretentious approach to filmmaking after four decades behind the lens. Just observe the opening scene of Cloud, which provides a complete psychological profile of the film’s main character before even displaying a title card. This sequence showcases our morally ambiguous reseller as he negotiates a deal for medical equipment: relentlessly driving the seller's price down, carefully crafting the listing, and then anxiously awaiting the outcome—first hovering over the sale price and later watching from a distance as the items are purchased one by one; letting out a soft, haunting sigh of pleasure as the last item turns from white to red.”

      Check out the preview and poster below, and read our interview with Kurosawa about the film: