IMDb 5.2 2013 HD

Arcana

Arcana

2013
Horror Thriller
89 min NR Japan
5.4 / 10
5.2 IMDB

Detective Murakami meets a girl who suffers from memory loss. The girl has special abilities including the ability to talk with the dead. Detective Murakami names her Maki.…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Yoshitaka Yamaguchi / Masaaki Kudo
Starring
Tao Tsuchiya / Masataka Nakagauchi / Mitsuki Tanimura / Goro Kishitani / Aiko Kaito / Miho Ninagawa / Masahiro Noguchi / Hajime Taniguchi

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

intriguing mysterious supernatural dark atmospheric compelling enigmatic suspenseful melancholic unconventional haunting

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
Apr 24, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Arcana presents a distinctive narrative, driven by the enigmatic presence of Maki, played with quiet intensity by Tao Tsuchiya. Her amnesia and her spectral connections become the fulcrum around which a complex murder investigation, involving a mad bomber,…

A
Arthur Pendelton
Apr 24, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

The premise of Arcana, featuring a detective teaming up with an amnesiac girl who can talk to ghosts to solve a bombing case, is undeniably intriguing. Tao Tsuchiya brings a certain fragility to Maki, while Masataka Nakagauchi anchors…

G
Genevieve Dubois
Apr 24, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Arcana is a film that dares to tread into unconventional territory, offering a refreshing take on the detective genre. Tao Tsuchiya is a revelation as Maki, a girl adrift in amnesia yet possessing the extraordinary gift of conversing…

J
Jasper Finch
Apr 24, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This Japanese thriller attempts to weave a complex tapestry of crime and the paranormal, with Detective Murakami finding an unlikely ally in the memory-challenged Maki, portrayed by Tao Tsuchiya. Her ability to speak with the dead introduces a…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 24, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Arcana presents a curious blend of supernatural mystery and police procedural, anchored by a compelling central premise. Tao Tsuchiya delivers a nuanced performance as Maki, the amnesiac girl with an uncanny connection to the departed. Her dynamic with…

FAQs

Memory and identity are clearly central themes in Arcana, primarily through the character of Maki. Her amnesia immediately places these concepts at the forefront, as Detective Murakami and the audience work to piece together who she is. Her ability to commune with the dead might also offer a unique perspective on how past lives and lingering spirits influence present identities and unresolved issues, making the investigation a journey of discovery for all involved.