Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman

Name: Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman
Genre: Horror
Released: 2007-03-16
Duration: 1 h 30 min
Rating: 6
Cast: Eriko Sato, Haruhiko Kato, Chiharu Kawai, Rie Kuwana, Kazuyuki Matsuzawa

口裂け女

2007 ·1h 30m · ★ 6.0 (117)

Legend holds that 30 years ago, a suburban town was terrorized by the spirit of a woman whose horrid face had been grotesquely disfigured. Roaming the streets wearing a long coat and carrying large scissors, the spirit would approach her young victims and, while removing the mask, ask if she was pretty. The victim’s response would almost always lead to their violent death.

Why it matters

A chilling dive into Japanese urban legend that blends folk horror with psychological dread, carving out a niche beyond standard ghost stories.

Anchored by a haunting, slow-burn atmosphere that leans on suspense more than cheap jump scares.
Practical creature design and makeup deliver a disturbingly memorable visage that lingers past the credits.
A key entry in the J-horror wave that redefined supernatural horror for global audiences in the early 2000s.
For fans of folklore-infused horror that uses cultural mythology to explore collective anxieties about beauty, identity, and violence.