Look at that beauty of a woman!
An author, seeking inspiration, moves to an isolated place where she meets a strange archaeologist who’s found a mummy he’s become obsessed with. Then, weird things start happening—the author sees a ghost trying to communicate with her, and at the same time, her cold, pushy editor, who’s also sort of a creep, keeps pressuring her. And why is the archaeologist obsessed with the mummy woman? Is he a pervert?
Loft is directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, and I remember watching this movie back in 2007 (I think). I was so disappointed that I had to give it another shot to see if it might grow on me.
And yes, the movie did grow on me. It’s not exactly popular since it’s a slow burner, and many viewers, like me, were disappointed when watching it for the first time. I’m pretty certain some people will be turned off by one particular actor who plays the archaeologist. His acting in some scenes is downright laughable. When he’s upset, he throws his body left and right so dramatically that I felt like I was watching a stage play featuring an over-the-top actress. He’s an absolute drama queen!
But what is the most important thing about the movie? It’s the chance to stare at the perfection that is Miki Nakatani. She’s so beautiful, her eyes are something you just want to devour—they’re that mesmerizing. I just want to sit in the corner of her house, watching her 24 hours a day, taking her in.
I’m not a creepy pervert, I’m just a regular man. There are a few of us left. Oh, Miki!
As I mentioned, Loft is a slow burner that makes you feel like you’re trapped in a nightmare. The protagonist is mostly isolated from the world, with only her archaeologist friend and her editor, who occasionally visits. It doesn’t have a big-budget feel—in fact, the opposite is true, with some scenes coming off as cheap due to budget restraints. But honestly, I didn’t care, because the movie offers some cool visuals, especially the scenes by the water, which hide a secret. These moments are awesome and stunning to look at, just like my darling, Miki Nakatani.
Loft features what Kiyoshi Kurosawa is best known for: a thick atmosphere, where he never rushes but takes his time making you feel uncomfortable and nervous. But what really hooked me was the story—I genuinely wanted to know what the hell was going on.
What’s also interesting is that you never really know what’s real and what’s part of a nightmare. It’s a film that makes your brain work, and I suspect many younger viewers might not be able to handle that. I was probably one of them when I first watched it years ago. Just be ready to laugh at the archaeologist’s acting in some scenes, and accept that the movie feels about 20 minutes too long. It’s far from perfect, but one thing’s for sure—Loft is an underrated movie.