Psychocinema

The Specials (2026) review [Fantasia 2026]

Uchida’s film will not win any awards, yet the film delivers what it promises and successfully pleases the spectator with its heartwarming message

Takashi Miike delivers a cinematographic gift, a surreal masterpiece that stays with the spectator long after the credits have faded.

A true classic of political cinema.

A pleasant Rocky-like dance-narrative, yet Nakamoto struggles to develop his promising concept into an emotionally satisfying experience.

Makoto Ueda proves that cinema is alive and kicking.

With brutal elegance, Uchida develops the idea that physical reality cannot be equated with subjective truth.

Eiji Uchida delivers a highly moving drama of motherhood.

Yutaro Seki and Kentaro Hirase deliver an experience that, in our view, has everything to become a cult-phenomenon, so do not sleep on it.

Find out our recommendations of this year’s Fantasia Film Festival.

Arai might be the fresh blood that the thriller genre thirsts for in Japan. However, only time will tell.

Yoji Yamada delivers an incredibly touching experience – possibly his swangsong – for cinephiles to savour.

Spectators who haven’t had similar life-experiences might struggle to emotionally invest into the characters and the narrative.

Santa Ikegami delivers a self-assured debut that does not easily give away its thematical message.

A modern classic, one of the best, if not the best, cinematic experiences of the ‘00.

A film that fully embraces the political dimension pink film once was known for.