Speaking of international horror, Cloud is probably one of the lesser-known movies on this list in the mainstream (at least in North America), but that doesn’t make it any less worthwhile. Hailing from the mind of director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, of Pulse fame, the film had a healthy run on the festival circuit, including Venice at Fantastic Fest. Critics loved it and, at long last, it recently made its way to theaters in the U.S. for all to see. The consensus tells us that Kurosawa has done it again, as his latest boasts an impressive 92% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. So, what’s all the buzz about, exactly? The official synopsis reads as follows:
“A stylish, subversive thriller from suspense-maverick Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cure, Pulse), concerning Yoshii, an ambitious, yet directionless, young factory worker from Tokyo who side hustles in the murky realm of black market reselling, cheating buyers and sellers alike. After swindling his way into loads of cash, Yoshii gradually attempts to disconnect from humanity, moving out of the city, shunning his girlfriend, and entrusting duties to his new, devoted assistant. Before long his life is plagued by a series of mysterious, sinister incidents that threaten to upend his success and bring about a most violent demise.”