This is one of the creepiest films I have ever seen. It begins with this man - Shigeharu Aoyama (played by Ryo Ishibashi) - weeping by his dying wife's bedside. After she dies, he becomes a reclusive, lonely widower with a small son.
Fast forward to the future, and his son, Shighiko, (played by Tetsu Sawaki) is all grown up and ready to leave the nest but worries that his dad will be alone for the rest of his life. With the son's influence, the dad's best friend decides to help him find a new wife. The two hold "auditions" to find the right bride for Shigeharu, bringing the women in under false pretenses, promising them a movie role if they pass the audition.
One woman after another auditions and Shigeharu is not interested in any of them. But then, one audition stands out from the rest. Asami Yamazaki (played by Eihi Shiina) is a quiet, reserved beauty. Shigeharu is not only intrigued, he eventually becomes obsessed with her. They begin an intimate relationship and it becomes very intense – and very strange.
We, the audience know that something is very odd about this woman although we cannot be sure what it is. She is definitely not who she appears to be. Suspense builds. Little by little we find out some very unnerving things about this woman but still, we are not sure what she is all about.
The story may move a little slow for some looking for a lot of action and thrills throughout the film. It is not your run-of-mill American slasher-horror film with a bunch of meaningless gore, but is an intelligent, subtle and eerie story. It pulls you in because you want to find out what this woman is hiding – what she is all about. When you finally realize what she is up to, well . be prepared for a very shocking and disturbing finale. It is pure, raw terror at its best.
Japanese director, Takashi Miike, does an excellent job of building uncertainty and anticipation slowly and masterfully in this evocative, intellectual thriller. His staggering images will haunt you long after the closing credits.
A must-see for serious horror fans!
Fast forward to the future, and his son, Shighiko, (played by Tetsu Sawaki) is all grown up and ready to leave the nest but worries that his dad will be alone for the rest of his life. With the son's influence, the dad's best friend decides to help him find a new wife. The two hold "auditions" to find the right bride for Shigeharu, bringing the women in under false pretenses, promising them a movie role if they pass the audition.
One woman after another auditions and Shigeharu is not interested in any of them. But then, one audition stands out from the rest. Asami Yamazaki (played by Eihi Shiina) is a quiet, reserved beauty. Shigeharu is not only intrigued, he eventually becomes obsessed with her. They begin an intimate relationship and it becomes very intense – and very strange.
We, the audience know that something is very odd about this woman although we cannot be sure what it is. She is definitely not who she appears to be. Suspense builds. Little by little we find out some very unnerving things about this woman but still, we are not sure what she is all about.
The story may move a little slow for some looking for a lot of action and thrills throughout the film. It is not your run-of-mill American slasher-horror film with a bunch of meaningless gore, but is an intelligent, subtle and eerie story. It pulls you in because you want to find out what this woman is hiding – what she is all about. When you finally realize what she is up to, well . be prepared for a very shocking and disturbing finale. It is pure, raw terror at its best.
Japanese director, Takashi Miike, does an excellent job of building uncertainty and anticipation slowly and masterfully in this evocative, intellectual thriller. His staggering images will haunt you long after the closing credits.
A must-see for serious horror fans!