Temple 2017

Present-day interrogation and flashback

In present-day Japan, a professor and his interpreter question a wounded and bandaged man. They exchange questions that go unanswered, building tension and mystery. When the professor plays a videotape, the man suddenly flashes back to the period before his injury, hinting at a deeper backstory.

Trip to Japan to study temples

Kate invites her friend Chris to join a trip to Japan to study local temples, while her boyfriend James remains casual about their platonic friendship. Chris, who speaks some Japanese, agrees to translate for the group. The trio prepares for travel and exploration.

Bookstore encounter and refusal

During sightseeing, they stop at a bookstore where Kate discovers a folklore book illustrating a temple. The proprietor abruptly refuses to sell the book and closes the shop, leaving the trio puzzled. They return to their hotel, unsettled by the encounter.

Club night and jealousy

That night, Chris and James visit a club, and Chris sees James kiss and dance with other women. The tension between them grows as Chris grapples with jealousy and the strain of the trip. They return to the hotel with unresolved feelings.

Seita encounter and the purchase

Back at the bookstore, Chris meets Seita, a boy claiming to work there, who offers to sell him the folklore book. Seita's presence feels unsettling as Chris begins experiencing strange, stalking-like sensations. He leaves with the book, unsure what to make of the encounter.

Haunted temple rumor and directions

In a bar, a man tells Chris that the temple is nearby and haunted, and the bartender provides directions to a village near it. They are warned to stay away, which only fuels their curiosity. The seeds of danger are planted as they weigh a dangerous search.

Hitoshi legend and local warnings

A local tells them of Hitoshi, a man who returned from a temple trip blind with visions. Villagers recount that a monk was killed when the temple's secrets were misunderstood, a story that the trio initially dismisses as superstition. The legends quietly foreshadow a darker reality.

Inn stay and eyeless encounter

They rent an inn for the night, where Chris meets Seita again, who reiterates his offer to take them to the temple the next day. At the inn, Chris encounters the eyeless man who identifies himself as Hitoshi and reveals that fifty years ago children disappeared and a monk was killed by villagers. The revelation deepens the sense that the past and present are connected.

Journey to the temple and the mine

Seita leads the group toward the temple, and along the way they discover an abandoned mine. James expresses a desire to explore it but ultimately agrees to reach the temple before dark to avoid danger. The sense of foreboding grows as wilderness and superstition converge.

Temple arrival, danger escalates

The temple is guarded by a kitsune statue, and Kate begins to explore while James grows uneasy. A disturbance in the forest unsettles them, and then Chris is pulled through a wooden floor, breaking his leg. James vows to fetch help at first light, but overhears Kate confessing an abortion to Chris and leaves in distress.

Kitsune chase and James' fate

A kitsune pursues James, while Kate heads back to the mine to rescue their companions. She finds James disfigured and eyeless; terrified, she flees as the mine entrance collapses, trapping her inside.

Missing children attack at the temple

Meanwhile, the missing children suddenly ambush Chris at the temple. The terror escalates as the haunting presence they have chased becomes a direct threat in the heart of the temple. The line between memory and reality blurs as danger closes in.