The Schmear Hunter

The Schmear Hunter

Cloud

Kiyoshi Kurosawa's latest is a sly meditation on violence, both virtual and visceral

Gabriel Frieberg's avatar
Gabriel Frieberg
Sep 09, 2024
∙ Paid

Schmear’s Verdict: Cloud is a darkly comic slow-burn thriller that spirals from virtual gamesmanship to violent chaos, exposing the grim consequences of digital predation in a bleakly immersive way.

Watch if you like: Cure, Black Mirror, The Social Network, Enemy, Perfect Blue


Count how many times characters in Cloud call what they’re doing a "game," and you’ll see how Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s new thriller deftly demonstrates the awkward collision of the virtual and real, along with the messy consequences in an increasingly miserable world.

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Gabriel Frieberg.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 The Schmear Hunter · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture