Cure (1997) - Movies Like Se7en | Filmiway

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Why This Matches the "Se7en" Aesthetic

Cure is the spiritual ancestor to Se7en’s philosophy of contagion. It explores how evil spreads like a virus through suggestion and atmosphere.

Cure

1997•Kiyoshi Kurosawa•120 min•R

The Experience

A detective investigates a series of gruesome murders committed by people who have no recollection of what they've done. The only link is a mysterious drifter who seems to hypnotize people through conversation. 'Cure' is a terrifying exploration of how easily the human mind can be broken and how evil can be contagious like a virus. It is the spiritual ancestor to 'Se7en's' philosophy of rot.

Cast & Crew

Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Starring: Kōji Yakusho, Masato Hagiwara

Production Details

Budget: 234k

Box Office: 10k

Age Rating:R
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SE7EN DNA SCORE

88
NOIR DARKNESS INDEX
7.5
IMDB RATING
PSYCHOLOGICAL GRIT LEVELEXTREME

Sophisticated cinematic storytelling with advanced non-linear elements.

Clean Content Record

Cure: No sexual content or graphic scenes present in this film.

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INTENSITY GRAPH

Narrative Analysis
Murder(35%)
X-Marks(55%)
Hypnosis(75%)
Contagion(90%)
Ending(95%)
Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Psychological: 50%Horror: 30%Horror: 30%Horror: 30%Horror: 30%Horror: 30%Horror: 30%Horror: 30%Horror: 30%Horror: 30%Horror: 30%Mystery: 20%Mystery: 20%Mystery: 20%Mystery: 20%Mystery: 20%Mystery: 20%

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CINEMATIC DNA

Genre Analysis
Psychological
50%
Horror
30%
Mystery
20%

Genre DNA Distribution

  • Psychological: 50%
  • Horror: 30%
  • Mystery: 20%

Movie Intensity Arc

  • Minute 10: Murder (35/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 30: X-Marks (55/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 60: Hypnosis (75/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 85: Contagion (90/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 108: Ending (95/100 Intensity)

Community Reviews

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FAQ About Cure

Common questions about Cure, its ending, and its place in noir cinema history.

What is the 'Cure'?

The title is ambiguous; it could refer to death being a 'cure' for the pain of life, or the release of repressed desires through violence.

Is the drifter supernatural?

It is left ambiguous whether he uses hypnosis or supernatural influence, making him a terrifying embodiment of pure, inexplicable malevolence.

Why is it scary?

It uses atmosphere, sound design, and dread rather than jump scares, creating a lingering feeling of unease that gets under your skin.

Did this inspire Se7en?

While released after Se7en, it shares the same nihilistic DNA and explores similar themes of contagion, where evil spreads from person to person.

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Curated by Filmiway Editorial Team

Expert analysis of noir & procedural thrillers

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