Audition
~ Takashi Miike ~ 2009 ~ 1h. 55m. ~
Takashi Miike
R | 1h 55min | Drama, Horror, Mystery | 1999
Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi), a widowed movie producer, stages an audition for a film with the explicit purpose of finding a new wife. A young actress named Asami (Eihi Shiina) catches his eye, and they quickly establish a relationship. Things take a darker turn as elements of her past come to light.
The tone and style of the movie changes drastically from start to finish. There are hardly any horror elements in the first half and it takes on a lot of aspects of a romantic comedy film. The audition itself comes across as manipulative and misogynistic, and a lot of it is played up for laughs. Gradually, Audition transforms into a sort-of ultimate feminist revenge fantasy.
There’s a lot of dream sequences with experimental editing and camerawork. For those expecting gore and violence, you’ll certainly get what you came for, but Audition is going to make you wait for it. Essential viewing for anyone interested in Japanese horror.
As seen by: Spencer Dick
12.22.2020