Best Wishes to All: J-Horror Is Back, Baby

I just caught Best Wishes to All at the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans, and I am thrilled to report: J-Horror is BACK—and it's weirder and more haunting than ever.

This eerie little gem comes from debut director Yûta Shimotsu, and if this is what he’s bringing to the horror table right out the gate, I will absolutely be following his career.

A Love Letter to Its Influences

According to the Overlook programming guide, this film draws inspiration from both Audition and The Wicker Man, and yep—that combo makes total sense once you watch it. I went in totally blind (as all horror screenings should be, IMO), and while the film wears its influences on its bloody sleeves, it’s also an original, unsettling, and often strange work in its own right.

There's a point in the story where the metaphors get a little tangled—it feels like several symbolic threads fighting for dominance—but even days later, I’m still unpacking what those moments meant. And honestly? I love that. It’s the kind of film that lingers, quietly unsettling, long after the credits roll.

Scared & Cozy Score

Scared: 2.5/5 ghosts
Cozy: 3/5 blankets

The movie simmers with dread, dishes out some excellent creep-out scares, and slides into that sweet spot for fans of generational trauma horror like Hereditary. If you like your horror emotionally messy with a side of the uncanny, this one’s for you.

Let’s Talk

Have you seen Best Wishes to All? Let me know your vibe in the comments—and don’t forget to follow me on YouTube and Instagram for more cozy horror recs, reviews, and festival finds!