Cloud is a 2024 Japanese psychological thriller film
written and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, one of Japan’s most
acclaimed filmmakers known for his chilling, layered stories. The movie stars Masaki
Suda in the lead role and dives deep into themes of greed, isolation,
betrayal, and the dangers of obsession.
The film had its world premiere at the 81st
Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2024, screened out of
competition. Later, it was also selected as Japan’s official entry for Best
International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards,
though it ultimately did not receive a nomination. Still, its haunting story
and Kurosawa’s direction left a strong impression on critics and audiences
worldwide.
The story follows Yoshii
(played by Masaki Suda), a factory worker who is unsatisfied with his dull,
underpaid job. To make extra money, he secretly works as an online
reseller.
We first see Yoshii committing a shady act—he
rips off one of his suppliers of health devices, then sells the products online
at a higher price, making a big profit. This initial moment sets the tone,
showing that Yoshii is willing to bend morals for money.
His factory boss (played by Yoshiyoshi
Arakawa) notices his potential and offers him a promotion. But instead of
taking the stable opportunity, Yoshii refuses. He dreams of becoming his own
boss and decides to throw himself fully into reselling.
Yoshii quits his job, leaving behind the
safety of his factory work. He rents a bigger house in the suburbs to serve
both as his home and his expanding warehouse. He also convinces his girlfriend,
Akiko (Kotone Furukawa), to move in with him. On top of that,
he hires an assistant, Sano (Daiken Okudaira), to help with
logistics and customer management.
At first, everything looks promising.
Yoshii’s business begins to thrive, money flows in, and his confidence grows.
But with success comes arrogance, and slowly, cracks begin to show.
As Yoshii’s wealth grows, so does his
obsession with profit. He becomes increasingly ruthless in his
dealings, caring little for relationships or loyalty.
·
Online,
dissatisfied customers begin to complain about him.
·
In real life,
former suppliers and buyers confront him, angry at his manipulations.
·
His assistant
Sano suggests diversifying into new products, but Yoshii dismisses the idea and
eventually fires him.
Meanwhile, Akiko begins to feel neglected.
Once close and affectionate, Yoshii now spends most of his time glued to his
computer screens, checking orders, arranging shipments, and calculating
profits. His obsession with money leaves no room for love.
Akiko, tired of being ignored and emotionally
abandoned, eventually moves out, leaving Yoshii further
isolated.
Now alone, Yoshii becomes an easy target. His
disgruntled customers and angry suppliers grow bolder, organizing against him
through online forums. His reputation collapses, and his arrogance catches up
with him.
When Yoshii relocates to his new suburban
address, his enemies track him down. The group includes:
·
Former customers he
cheated,
·
Suppliers he
ripped off,
·
And even his old
factory boss (played by Masataka Kubota), who still harbors resentment against
him.
The mob arrives at Yoshii’s house, armed with
makeshift weapons, ready for violent revenge. Yoshii barely escapes and flees
into the nearby woods. A terrifying cat-and-mouse chase
follows, but Yoshii manages to shake them off.
On his way back, he runs into Akiko
again. Despite everything, she seems willing to help. Together, they talk about
running away and starting fresh. But before they can escape, the mob finds
Yoshii again and kidnaps him.
The vengeful group decides to make Yoshii’s
punishment a spectacle. They plan to burn him alive and
broadcast the killing online, turning him into an example for others.
Unbeknownst to them, Akiko has secretly
followed. At the same time, Yoshii’s former assistant Sano
also reappears. Although Yoshii had fired him, Sano still keeps track of him
and uses GPS to trace his phone.
In a shocking twist, Sano arrives armed with
a gun. Revealed to have shady underworld connections of his own, he storms the
scene, guns down several of the attackers, and rescues Yoshii.
After escaping, Yoshii asks Sano why he
risked his life to save him despite being dismissed. Sano doesn’t give a clear
answer, but his actions suggest deeper motives.
Together, they engage in a brutal shootout
with the remaining assailants, eventually eliminating them all. The violence is
raw and relentless, showing the complete collapse of morality.
When Yoshii steps outside, he finds Akiko
waiting. For a brief moment, it seems like a reunion. He runs to embrace her,
believing she still cares. But Akiko reveals her true intentions—she wants
Yoshii’s credit cards and financial assets.
She points a gun at him, intending to kill
him. But Akiko is inexperienced with weapons. In the struggle, Sano
shoots her first, killing her instantly.
This shocking betrayal cements Yoshii’s
fate—everyone he once trusted has either left him, tried to exploit him, or
died.
In the final scene, Yoshii and Sano drive
away together. The world around them feels empty, scarred by betrayal and
violence.
Sano encourages Yoshii to continue his work,
promising him wealth, power, and “even things that can destroy the world.” His
words suggest dangerous ambitions that go far beyond simple reselling.
Yoshii, shaken and hollow, mutters:
“So this is how you’re going to hell.”
The movie ends with an ambiguous tone. Is
Yoshii now trapped in Sano’s world of crime? Will his greed pull him deeper
into darkness? Or is he just a pawn in someone else’s bigger game?
Cloud (2024) is not just a thriller—it’s a disturbing look at human
greed, moral decay, and the cost of ambition.
·
Yoshii begins as
an ordinary worker but becomes consumed by his hunger for money.
·
His relationships
crumble, leaving him vulnerable and alone.
·
The mob reflects
the anger of those he exploited, while Sano represents the dark, seductive pull
of unchecked ambition.
·
The ending leaves
the audience questioning whether Yoshii has escaped or simply traded one trap
for another.
Kiyoshi Kurosawa crafts the story with his
trademark tension and psychological depth. Masaki Suda’s performance as Yoshii
is both chilling and tragic, capturing a man undone by his own choices.
Though not nominated for an Oscar, Cloud remains one of the most powerful Japanese thrillers of 2024—a story of survival, betrayal, and the dangerous storm that brews when greed takes over.
That’s the full breakdown of Cloud (2024)
– a slow-burn thriller that turns into an explosive story about profit,
paranoia, and punishment.
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