New Religion

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New Religion

2022

1h 40m

Drama

Horror

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

89%

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9 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

After her daughter's death in an accident, Miyabi gets a divorce, starts working as a call girl and moves in with her new boyfriend. In a meeting with a new customer, he asks to take a picture of her body -- first her spine, then, her feet, and after that, he begins to photograph her every time they meet. One day, while at home, Miyabi feels a small hand touching her leg and soon realizes that every time she allows her body to be photographed she can feel her daughter's spirit reaching closer and closer. Soon, only her eyes remain to be captured, leading to the outcome which defines this unique art-house fantasy from a culture-shocking Japanese voice.

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Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

AWFJ.org

This is an impressive, ambitious film that succeeds as much as a tone poem as it does a story about grief, identity, a society spiralling out of control, and the volatility that rumbles underneath the assumed indexicality of the very image itself

Jul 8, 2024

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

It is always exciting to discover a film that absolutely reflects one’s own tastes, and if – like me – you have a particular love for atmospheric Japanese horror, then New Religion is also likely to reflect yours.

Rated: 8/10

Jul 18, 2025

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James Hadfield

Japan Times

“New Religion” is weird, all right, but it’s wearying, too.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 18, 2025

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Ygraine Hackett-Cantabrana

Moving Pictures Film Club

the beautiful visuals and amazing soundscape combine to make this feature debut an immersive art experience.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 15, 2024

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Bee Delores

B-Sides & Badlands

Director Keishi Kondo’s debut feature New Religion hurls the viewer through a restoration of one woman’s soul amidst unimaginable tragedy.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 3, 2024

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Ard Vijn

ScreenAnarchy

At the end, there was plenty to discuss with the people I saw it with. Is this a classic? No, but if Kondo Keishi ends up making classics, New Religion will go into history as the very promising debut which foretold this.

Rated: 7/10

Oct 13, 2023

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Jeff W

Slow, boring, terrible script and acting, not scary at all, and a complete waste of time.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/25

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Keishi Kondo

Director

Kaho Seto

Miyabi

Satoshi Oka

Oka

Ryuseigun Saionji

Actor

Daiki Nunami

Aizawa

Ruby Nakamura

Utsumi

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Synopsis

After her daughter's death in an accident, Miyabi gets a divorce, starts working as a call girl and moves in with her new boyfriend. In a meeting with a new customer, he asks to take a picture of her body -- first her spine, then, her feet, and after that, he begins to photograph her every time they meet. One day, while at home, Miyabi feels a small hand touching her leg and soon realizes that every time she allows her body to be photographed she can feel her daughter's spirit reaching closer and closer. Soon, only her eyes remain to be captured, leading to the outcome which defines this unique art-house fantasy from a culture-shocking Japanese voice.

Director: Keishi Kondo
Producer: Keishi Kondo
Screenwriter: Keishi Kondo, Keishi Kondo
Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Original Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1h 40m

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