After over two years of making the film circuits in Asia and Europe,
Takashi Miike's horror/thriller finally touches down in North America.
In a small review I saw somebody say "David Cronenberg eat your heart
out." I can understand why. The film is very very slow on the uptake, a
widower, Shigeharu Aoyama, has been suggested by his grown son that
it's time to find a new woman or wife. Aoyama, who has strong ties to
the Japanese film industry, is given the idea to hold auditions for
this new unfound woman. After picking out a much younger woman, Asami,
the plan seems to go ahead smoothly, but as events unfold, things just
get completely fucked. They meet a few times, they have dinner, they go
away for a romantic weekend in the mountains. Suddenly, she vanishes
without a trace, and Aoyama is left to put together the pieces. Little
does he know what terror awaits him. Those familiar with Miike's other
works might expect gorey horror, but the cultural elite at the Brattle
Theater on Friday night weren't prepared for it. It was amusing to
watch swarms of them quickly leaving as the brutality levels were
cranked way up. In a demented way, it was cute (while completely
frightening) as the petit, cute, sweet Japanese girl was transformed
into a domineering sadist. While the last 1/4 of the film was
definitely more exciting, I'm wondering if the build-up was really
worth it. If you choose to see this, I highly recommend staying until
the end no matter how freaked out you get. Just don't see it on a full
stomach.
