Satoru

Derived from the Japanese name Satoru, roughly translating to "to know", this film of the same name follows a grieving mother, Stephanie, who longs to understand what happened to her missing daughter. When she learns of an ancient ritual called Satoru, she must decide whether to resist temptation or give into curiosity and invoke it. Directed by Andrew Short and Veronica Orciari, this surreal horror asks whether some things are better left unknown.

The opening scene features Stephanie visiting Emma and Jacob, though it is unclear what the relationship is between her and the couple. It seems likely Emma is either Stephanie’s younger sister or best friend. Whether it is intentionally vague to assist the motif of ‘not knowing things’ or not, it feels like essential information that the audience should be privy to. However the main draw of this scene is the simple but effective conversational arc shared by the three, feeling more akin to theatre than film in a fantastic display of understated direction, blocking and cinematography. This scene serves to explain the plot and, despite a rather convenient and on-the-nose delivery, it manages to achieve this in a way that keeps the audience firmly engaged.

Light on jump-scares, Satoru’s horror lies within the agonising tension throughout the piece. Short and Orciari achieve this through expert use of uncanny elements, such a stand-out sequence in which Stephanie pursues who she believes to be her daughter, only to discover it is someone else entirely. The representation of the Satoru creature itself also aids the tone of the film, with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearances sporting a surreal and simplistic design.

Perhaps the most effective, albeit subtle, aspect of the tone is the wonderful score and sound design. The music composed by Haana Lee knows exactly when to ramp up the fear with a composition that evokes dread, but is mature enough to know when to let the silence speak for itself, handing over to Michael Griggs’ stellar and eerie sound design to carry the tension alone. This marriage of score and sound plays like a perfect relay race, knowing precisely when to handover to one another.

With all this considered, and a simply spectacular emotional performance from lead actor Sarah Lambie, Satoru is a near-perfect horror from imaginative concept to meticulous execution. Compelling acting, a score that keeps the heart racing, and a story that makes the heart ache – this film is sure to stay with audiences long after the credits roll…