Directed by Takashi Miike (Happiness of the Katakuris, lots of other Japanese movies)

Written by
Ryu Murakami (novel)
Daisuke Tengan

Starring
Ryo Ishibashi (Suicide Club, The Crossing Guard)
Eihi Shiina (Eureka)

Review: by Don (e-mail your faithful reviewer)

This movie is something else. I mean… I don’t want to give away too much, but you just gotta talk about it. First of all, if you go into this thing expecting a straight up horror film, then prepare to be disappointed. The first three quarters of this film, aside from one brief scene, play like a sort of depressing love story.

The idea is that a well-to-do widower, after being told by his son that he needs to, decides to find a new prospective wife. He happens to know a guy who makes movies, and this friend decides to help him out.  They set up a movie, with the purpose that the girls auditioning for the film will also be prospective wives for our hero. It’s a little twisted sounding, but they actually DO intend to make a film with one of these girls, so at least it’s not a total lie.

One girl in particular strikes his fancy due to her beauty and sad life story. She was once a ballet dancer, but a hip injury took that away from her and it felt as though a part of her life had died. He feels the same way about his dead wife and thinks that they may be able to make a bond. And he’s right. At least it seems that way at first.

Things progress along swimmingly till one night she disappears. He can’t find her. Then she finds him. At this point the movie goes to a horrible place. A very, very horrible place. Think Jeffery Dahmer bad. Think flesh and bone cut through with piano wire and acupuncture needles in your lower eyelids bad. Think having your tongue cut out, living in a sack and eating vomit bad. Think… aw, hell. You get the picture. And it all happens beginning at Chapter 18 on the DVD.

The story is disturbing, but tragic. You feel for these people. Granted a lot of what you feel is revulsion, but there is actual sorrow as well. Think of it a bit as the Japanese May and you kind of get the idea of the sort of picture this is. 

To close, it’s highly recommended. And while your at it, pick up Miike’s Happiness of the Katakuris as well. That one’s a comedy. With zombies.

DVD Details:

Translated Commentary with Takashi Miike beginning at Chapter 18

Interview with director Takashi Miike from the American Cinematheque Theatre - conducted by Dennis Bartok and Chris D.

Biography/ filmography of Takashi Miike

Tour of Egyptian Theatre (9 minutes)

Further Information:

Internet Movie Database