Our journey into digital nightmares concludes at 9pm with Ten Shimoyama’s St. John’s Wort (2001), a J-Horror hidden gem that mixes ghostly atmosphere with the uncanny aesthetics of early 2000s computer game graphics to deliver a truly one-of-a-kind experience. 

The story centers on Nami, a video game artist haunted by a disturbing house from her dreams. As she creates artwork for a game inspired by this eerie vision, a producer discovers the house is real and offers to take her there to investigate its mysteries. But what begins as a creative expedition spirals into a chilling descent, as malevolent forces within the house blur the line between reality and nightmare. 

With its disturbing imagery, surreal visuals, and idiosyncratic filmmaking style, St. John’s Wort captures the immersive tension of early survival horror games while weaving a tale of family trauma, psychological terror, and supernatural dread. Unnerving and unforgettable, this is a cinematic vision that haunts long after the credits roll. Step inside this cursed house—if you dare—but beware: not all games have a reset button.