Film of the Day: "Sweet Home" — The Japanese Horror That Spawned the Resident Evil Universe

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In 1989, director Kiyoshi Kurosawa made "Sweet Home" — a horror film that unexpectedly became the foundation for an entire genre. Simultaneously with the premiere, a Nintendo game was released, which later inspired Capcom to create the cult franchise Resident Evil. Yes, this is where the mansions with secrets, monsters, and artifact keys were born.

What the Film Is About

A film crew heads to the abandoned mansion of artist Mamiya to restore his works and shoot a documentary. But the old house harbors a terrible secret. Ghosts inhabit the walls, and the mansion becomes a trap for the living.

At the center lies the story of the Mamiya family curse, where a child's death transformed the mother into a vengeful spirit.

Viewing Experience

"Sweet Home" can't be called a classic of world horror, but it grabs you with its thick, almost sticky atmosphere.
Skinny monster shooting lightning from his hands, Japanese girl in gas mask
Scenes from "Sweet Home"
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Dark corridors, practical special effects, and synthesizer music that creates genuine nightmare fuel. The film can boldly be compared to "Suspiria" or Dario Argento's "Phenomena." These comparisons aren't accidental: visually, the film looks like Japan's answer to European gothic horror.

Interesting Facts

The film's main claim to fame is its connection to the gaming industry. The simultaneously released game "Sweet Home" is considered the progenitor of the Resident Evil series.

Level structure, searching for weapons and keys, fighting for survival in a mansion — all of this later became the canon of "survival horror." It's fascinating that the movie and game emerged as a unified project, but the game left the more lasting legacy.
Game trailer and scenes from "Sweet Home"
Additionally, "Sweet Home's" story proved controversial: according to Wikipedia, producer Juzo Itami re-edited the film without Kurosawa's consent. The director even filed a lawsuit — an unprecedented case in Japanese cinema. He lost the case, and Itami's version remains the one available today.

Critical and Audience Reception

On IMDb, the film maintains a 6.5 out of 10 rating. Many praise the surprising "logic" of the plot — a rarity for horror films. Sure, not every scene truly frightens, but the tension and dark atmosphere work without fail.

"Sweet Home" isn't just another haunted house horror flick. It's the film that spawned an entire gaming culture. It moves, scares, and surprises with its influence on the genre. For horror lovers and Resident Evil fans, this is a real treasure. Earlier on zoomboola.com, we covered the film "Hallow Road" — when terrifying nightmares begin with a phone call.