Treasured Films Announce UK Blu-ray Release of Cult J-Horror X-Cross
Treasured Films has announced that Kenta Fukasaku’s cult Japanese horror thriller X-Cross (2007) will be making its UK Blu-ray debut this April, marking a notable first for the boutique label as it ventures into Japanese genre cinema for the very first time. The release, catalogued as TFS019, is currently up for pre-order and is scheduled for April 27, 2026, with the usual caveat that dates can shift slightly in the world of physical media. It will also serve as the final title included in the label’s “Video Club – Next 6 Releases” subscription line-up, which has quietly become one of the more interesting curated boutique packages on the UK market.
Originally released in 2007 under the full title X-Cross: Legend of the Devil’s Nest, the film is directed by Kenta Fukasaku, a filmmaker best known to genre fans for Battle Royale II: Requiem and Yo-Yo Girl Cop. That pedigree alone should perk up the ears of anyone who enjoys stylised, slightly unhinged Japanese genre cinema that refuses to sit neatly in one box. Based on Nobuyuki Jōkō’s novel Sono Kētai wa X-Cross de, the film blends action, horror, and thriller elements into a deliberately fragmented, chapter-driven narrative structure that sets it apart from more traditional J-horror releases of the era.
The story follows Shiyori Mizuno, played by Nao Matsushita, who retreats to a rural resort village after a failed relationship, accompanied by her more rebellious best friend Aiko, portrayed by J-Pop star Ami Suzuki. What begins as a seemingly peaceful getaway quickly descends into full-blown nightmare territory when the pair discover that the village is not a relaxing countryside escape but the home of a deeply disturbing cult. Said cult has a particularly grisly fixation on mutilation, and the film quickly pivots into a survival-driven horror scenario as the friends are separated and forced to navigate a hostile, ritualistic environment filled with psychopathic danger.
While the premise sounds like pure exploitation on paper, X-Cross is often remembered for its energetic pacing, stylised editing, and tonal fusion that pulls from multiple influences. There are shades of folk horror in its isolated village setting, echoes of classic J-horror in its atmosphere, and a structurally playful storytelling approach that gives the film a distinctive identity compared to more straightforward horror titles from the mid-2000s. The comparison to films like The Wicker Man in tone and rural dread is not entirely misplaced, though X-Cross leans far more into action-horror spectacle once the cult elements come to the forefront.
The cast also includes Shoko Nakagawa, Maju Ozawa, and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, with the dynamic between Matsushita’s emotionally vulnerable Shiyori and Suzuki’s tougher Aiko forming the emotional core of the film. Interestingly, Suzuki was also heavily involved in the film’s promotion, even recording a cover version of the ending theme song “Potential Breakup Song” (originally by Aly & AJ) under the credit “Ami Suzuki Joins Aly & AJ,” which gives the film an unusual pop-culture crossover element rarely seen in Western horror marketing.
From a physical media perspective, Treasured Films is giving X-Cross the kind of boutique treatment collectors have come to expect from smaller UK labels that genuinely care about genre cinema rather than just dumping catalogue titles onto disc. The Blu-ray will feature a new HD master with director-approved grading, ensuring that the film’s stylised visuals and colour palette are presented as intended. For a film that relies heavily on mood and visual flair, that restoration detail is far more important than it might initially sound.
The special features are also surprisingly robust. Newly produced extras include an audio commentary by author Patrick Macias, an interview with director Kenta Fukasaku, and multiple video essays that explore both the film itself and the wider context of Japan’s “girls-with-gore” cinema movement. Essays such as Scissor Slaying and Shear Slashing and Armed and Dangerous: The Rise of Japan’s Girls-With-Gore Cinema suggest that the label is positioning this release not just as a cult oddity, but as part of a broader conversation about Japanese genre filmmaking in the 2000s.
Collectors will also be pleased to hear that the first pressing comes packed with limited edition extras, including a double-walled slipcase with new artwork by Ilan Sheady, an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing by Jonathan Wroot and David Michael Brown, a reversible sleeve with two artwork options, and webstore-exclusive items like a magnet and reversible A3 poster limited to 300 units. Japanese audio with English subtitles, a Region B lock, and a UK 15 certificate round out the technical specifications.
For Treasured Films, this release feels like a natural step forward. The label has already built a reputation among genre collectors with releases such as Nomads, Mausoleum, Mikey, and The Last Shark, focusing on cult and under-seen titles that larger distributors often overlook. Their move into Japanese horror with X-Cross signals both ambition and an understanding of what boutique collectors actually want: obscure, stylish genre cinema presented with care rather than treated as disposable catalogue filler.
It is also worth noting that the UK boutique scene has grown significantly in recent years, with newer labels carving out their own identities alongside more established distributors. Along with labels like Last Slate Video, Treasured Films represents a new wave of collector-focused companies that prioritise physical media preservation, curated extras, and genuine film appreciation over mass-market releases. In an era where streaming often buries niche titles, releases like this ensure that cult films such as X-Cross are not only accessible but properly celebrated.
For fans of J-horror, cult thrillers, and boutique Blu-ray collecting, this April release is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing genre discs of the year. A stylish, brutal, and often overlooked slice of mid-2000s Japanese horror finally getting a dedicated UK Blu-ray is exactly the kind of release that keeps physical media collectors very, very happy. You can pre-order direct from Treasured Films right HERE.
