Kurosawa’s early slasher is a successful stylistic experiment that anyone who calls himself a fan of Japanese horror should see.
Category: Crime
#Manhole (2023) review
A highly engaging and twist-rich narrative that beautifully illustrates the continued importance of the image for the subject as well as the disastrous effects of the frustration of the desire to be recognized.
Village (2023) review
An incredibly powerful drama narrative that illustrates how toxic and destructive a societal environment can be for the subject – the persecutory dimension of the Other – and how reparative ‘inter-subjective’ signifiers can be.
Halloween Special Review: The Ghosts of Yotsuya (1956) review
An incredible horror film that retains its power to engage and thrill the spectator due to Tomisabura Wakayama’s outstanding performance.
The Killing Game (1978) review
Murakawa delivers a satisfying sequel.
The Most Dangerous Game (1978)
A stylish noirish experience that offers many satisfying action moments and a chance for the male spectator to fleetingly savour an impossible fantasy of male desirability.
The Bullet Train (1975) review
A highly engaging and satisfying thriller classic.
Baby Assassins: 2 babies (2023) review [Nippon Connection 2023]
Sakamoto’s latest film has such a irresistible charm that even those who normally shy away of action or comedy narratives will leave satisfied.
Kaito Ruby (1988) review
A highly satisfying rom-com about phallic stupidity and desire’s subjective impact.
Drive Into Night (2022)
A pleasant narrative that laments the ongoing pauperization of the social bond.
Joint (2021) review [The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme]
Oudai Kojima proves, once again, that the yakuza genre is not dead and that, given the current societal constellation and the various currents within, engaging crime narratives can still be made.
Missing (2022) review
Shinzo Katayama delivers one of the most satisfying drama-thrillers this year.
Goodbye Cruel World (2022) review [Japannual 2022]
“A stylish exploration of the cruel call for destruction that structures the perverse criminal field.”
Parallel (2022) review
A fabulous narrative that does not only delivers a thrilling slasher-like experience, but offers a touching romance between two people that are, in their own particular way, deeply marked by their traumatic past.
Prior Convictions (2022) review [Camera Japan Festival]
“A very relevant exploration of the fact that the criminal act is, in many cases, born from an antagonistic relation between the subject and the Other.”