Cure (1997)

In the heart of Tokyo, a chilling tide of gruesome murders is sweeping through the city, leaving a haunting signature: a bloody X carefully carved into the necks of the victims. Amidst the chaos and fear, police detective Kenichi Takabe finds himself embroiled in a perplexing investigation, trying to decipher the connection between these brutal slayings. Each murderer is swiftly apprehended, caught near the scene of the crime, but they all share a perplexing trait - they remember nothing of their chilling deeds and cannot reason their motives. Takabe's only ally in this labyrinth of horror is the astute psychologist, Makoto Sakuma. Together, they delve into the enigma, only to find a curious pattern. Every killer had a puzzling encounter with a stranger just prior to their murder spree. This discovery leads them to the man who seems to be the missing piece of this sinister puzzle - the hospital intern, Kunio Mamiya. Mamiya, a man lost in a fog of amnesia, wields a strange influence over anyone he interacts with. His eerily dazed demeanor and his ability to implant murderous suggestions into the minds of his victims through hypnotism reveal a horrifying truth. Meanwhile, Takabe's personal life begins to crumble under the strain of the investigation and the burden of his mentally unstable wife, Fumie. His obsession with the case intensifies, hinting at his own unraveling sanity. As Takabe teeters on the brink of madness, the line between hunter and prey blurs. His relentless pursuit of Mamiya and the truth behind the terrifying spree of murders threatens to consume him, pushing him into a terrifying abyss. With every tick of the clock, the echoes of the bloody X resonate louder, drawing viewers into a world where reality and nightmare intertwine.

Cure is a crime movie featuring Koji Yakusho and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

Cure is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy Cure on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies and Vudu.