niimiya

I went to see this movie because it was directed by Hideo Nakata, one of the foremost J-horror directors, but the plot, acting, and special effects were all so bad that I had a painful time. It was advertised as a normal J-horror film, but it was a contradiction in terms: a horror film for children. So maybe the title is a parody of IT. In that sense, it was a Not For Me film, but I think the quality was also low as a jubilee horror film. I would have enjoyed such a movie a little more if the lead actor and the child actor had performed well, but both of them were terrible...From now on, even if it is a film by Hideo Nakata, a director I respect and admire, I will stop going to see it easily.

The film lacks a sense of reality, as many of the developments are not unlike those of the Japanese justice system. Also, many of the developments are predictable and not surprising, but I still thought this film was great because of the excellent performance of Sadawo Abe in the lead role. Mr. Abe did an excellent job of playing an orderly pleasure killer who skillfully tames abused and emotionally traumatized boys and girls. As an audience member, we were relieved that he had already been arrested and imprisoned in the film, but Mr. Abe's performance was so excellent that even our relief was threatened.