The upcoming film Daarekasan to Asobo?, starring Suzuka Chinzei of FRUITS ZIPPER, will be released nationwide on July 24.

This film is the latest work from director Takashi Shimizu, who helmed the Ju-on series and made history as the first Japanese director to top the U.S. box office with The Grudge, a Hollywood remake that sent shockwaves across the globe.

This school horror story follows psychological counselor Koharu Hirase (played by Suzuka Chinzei) and her younger sister Nanami as they are dragged into an inescapable chain of terror after playing a game they are told not to play, something secretly gaining popularity among young people.

■Comment from Suzuka Chinzei
“Now that filming has begun, I feel a sense of determination, thinking, “It’s finally started.” I was a bit nervous about taking on the challenge of my first solo lead role in a movie, especially a horror film, and the unique visual style of Shimizu’s production team was so compelling that even while I was in a scene, just a glance at the monitor sent a chill down my spine. I can’t stop thinking about how terrifying it’s going to be once it’s finished!
The director is very kind and gives me detailed advice for each scene, so I truly feel like we’re building this together, step by step. The set is filled with a really happy vibe, and the way the atmosphere shifts completely the moment the clapperboard clicks makes me feel like this is truly something special. When the horror scenes started, my realistic fear of the dark instantly triggered my “scared switch.” It’s truly a spectacular sight to see each scene being transformed into something terrifying by all the people behind the scenes.
I’ll be giving it my all alongside the team to deliver “the scariest film in the universe,” right up until release day.
Everyone, get ready for some serious thrills!”

■Comment from Director Takashi Shimizu
“The mythical power that hat dwells in words, characters, and sounds is a tricky thing…It can be a source of salvation, but it can also become a curse.
A casual remark you make just for fun can throw someone’s life off track or even ruin it.
Contempt, envy, jealousy, slander, insults…In this age of social media, negative words and messages wishing others ill have become more common than ever before. That invisible “someone” might be right beside you, or it might even be you.
Can we rein in our frivolous emotions and words and show each other kindness with more positivity?”