Audition

There is no one quite like Takashi Miike. His films drag you kicking and screaming into the bowels of the subconscious, wading through the darkest recesses of the mind to a place where sanity fears to tread. Unsettlingly unique, with a twisted sense of humour that often feels like it's laughing in your face, Miike's vision is as disturbing as it is unforgettable. Over the years, his films- from 'Visitor Q' and 'Gozu' to 'As the Gods Will'- have defied genre conventions, electrifying audiences with their marvellous madness.

Miike's penchant for defying expectation reaches its peak with 'Audition,' a film that lulls you into a false sense of comfort before pulling the rug out from under you. What begins as a seemingly innocent tale of romance and second chances morphs into a terrifying exploration of obsession, manipulation and the dark side of human desire. Here Miike's mastery of suspense and psychological horror truly comes to the fore, leaving one both mesmerized and petrified.

Based on a Ryû Murakami novel, and with a screenplay by Daisuke Tengan, it follows Shigeharu Aoyama, a widower whose friend suggests a peculiar way to help him find a new wife: by holding auditions for a role in a fictional television series. The women who try out are unaware of the true purpose behind the casting call. Shigeharu eventually chooses the soft-spoken Asami Yamazaki, setting in motion a twisted game of deception and violence that will inevitably lead to disaster.

At its core, the film is a masterclass on how to slowly unravel a narrative, building tension and suspense without relying on conventional horror tropes. Miike takes his time, establishing Shigeharu's loneliness and sincere longing for companionship. The film lures the audience into a false sense of security, mirroring Shigeharu's delusions around his search for love. While hiding the darker reality beneath the surface as the story progresses, the sense of dread becomes palpable, shifting from subtle unease to outright terror.

'Audition' also explores the complex themes of desire, control and the power dynamics at play in relationships, especially those rooted in objectification and manipulation. Shigeharu's superficial approach to finding a partner- viewing his auditionee wives as interchangeable- serves as a critique of the commodification of intimacy. Asami, on the other hand, embodies a darker form of agency, using her past trauma and quiet demeanour to manipulate, ultimately controlling the narrative. Their twisted dance of dominance and submission drives the film towards its nightmarish climax.

On a deeper level, the film also functions as a profound meditation on the complex psychological dynamics between its central characters. Shigeharu, driven by grief and loneliness, initially approaches his search for a wife with the same detached objectivity as a casting director. His blind desire for companionship renders him complicit in the very horrors he unknowingly sets in motion.

Asami, in contrast, exemplifies a darker form of agency. Having internalized her trauma, she uses it as a means of control. Her silence and reserve are deceptive, masking a raging inner world. She is all too ready to manipulate Shigeharu, ultimately shaping their shared fate. The film suggests that the consequences of human desire are not just about the object of that desire but the desperate lengths one may go to, to satisfy it.

Miike also taps into the cultural undercurrent of late 1990's Japan, where traditional views on marriage and the commodification of women were being questioned in the face of modernization. This social context adds an extra layer of critique, positioning Shigeharu's objectification of the women he auditions as a reflection of broader societal attitudes toward relationships, intimacy and gender roles. The film's eerie depiction of marriage as a transaction- rather than a partnership based on mutual respect- resonates with these cultural critiques, making 'Audition' a chilling commentary on the commodification of love itself.

The film's atmosphere is one of its most potent weapons. Miike expertly shifts from serene, almost ordinary moments to escalating chaos, often without warning. The tension between the mundanity of Shigeharu's life- his attempts to fill the void left by his wife and the horrific events brewing beneath the surface- keeps the audience constantly on edge. The film's deliberate pace allows dread to build as we slowly uncover the dark realities of both Shigeharu's search for companionship and Asami's tortured past. This slow burn makes the eventual explosion of violence all the more shocking and impactful.

Alongside cinematographer Hideo Yamamoto, Miike's use of sound and visual style is crucial in creating the film's suffocating atmosphere. The muted colours and empty spaces of the early scenes are contrasted by the sudden, jarring violence that erupts later, making each disturbing moment all the more visceral. Moreover, Kôji Endô's haunting, unsettling score and the quiet, eerie silences contribute to a pervasive feeling of unease. Miike's decision to focus on small, often uncomfortable details- a close-up of a hand, a long, lingering shot of a man in a wheelchair- forces one to become complicit in the horror, deepening the nightmare.

Ryo Ishibashi stars as Shigeharu, opposite Eihi Shiina's Asami. Ishibashi gives a nuanced performance, subtly embodying the character's growing desperation and vulnerability. His portrayal of a man who, while seeking genuine companionship, remains oblivious to the dark forces at play, draws one in, making his eventual fate all the more chilling. Ishibashi's ability to shift from a seemingly benign, fatherly figure to a man trapped in his own naïve desires heightens the emotional stakes of the film.

Shiina, meanwhile, delivers a hauntingly quiet, yet intensely unsettling performance. With minimal dialogue, she conveys a wealth of emotion through her eyes and body language, imbuing Asami with an air of mystery and quiet menace. Her transformation from a seemingly delicate, almost fragile woman to a vengeful force of nature is chilling. Shiina's performance is key to the film's eerie atmosphere, capturing the tension simmering beneath the surface until it erupts into full-blown terror. In addition, the supporting cast do routinely strong work, notably Jun Kunimura and Renji Ishibashi as Shigeharu's friend and a wheel-chair bound creep, respectfully.

Comparing it to other psychological thrillers of its time, such as David Fincher's 'Seven', Miike's film stands out for its unflinching commitment to horror transcending mere shock value. Unlike other films relying on conventional narrative arcs, 'Audition' takes its time unravelling the tension, making its violent payoff all the more harrowing. It remains one of the most unique, unnerving psychological thrillers of its era, cementing Miike's legacy as a director who not only defies genre conventions but also reshapes them, with a pickaxe to the head.

In conclusion, Takashi Miike's 'Audition' is a masterpiece of the macabre. Well-written and strikingly shot, it draws you into a nightmare where escape seems impossible. Hard to forget, the performances- especially Eihi Shiina's as Asami- are remarkable. Miike doesn't just push the boundaries of horror; he shatters them, leaving behind a film that is as unforgettable as it is unsettling. 'Audition' stands as a testament to his unrelenting creativity, proving that horror can be both terrifying and thought-provoking- an experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

Well, we always knew the Japanese could do horror films with exceptional flair, but psychological horror hasn't been this exhilarating (and ultimately nauseating) since, well, since, I don't know when. Beware, this is not for the weak of heart, and don't be fooled by it's satiric comedic set-up. When the "audition" is through, you may want to throw up, or praise the film-makers for being so bold.

In Tokyo, Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) is a widower that grieves the loss of his wife and raises his son Shigehiko Aoyama (Tetsu Sawaki) alone. Seven years later, the teenage Shigehiko asks why his middle-aged father does not remarry and Shigeharu meets his friend Yasuhisa Yoshikawa (Jun Kunimura), who is a film producer, and tells his intention. However, Shigeharu has difficulties to approach to available women to date and Yasuhisa decide to organize a sham audition for casting the lead actress for the fake movie. They receive several portfolios of candidates and Shigeharu becomes obsessed by the gorgeous Asami Yamazaki (Eihi Shiina). Despite the advice of the experienced Yasuhisa, Shigeharu calls Asami to date and he falls for her. But who is the mysterious Asami?

"Ôdishon" a.k.a. "Audition" is a great horror movie with a creepy, disturbing and even realistic story but with less violence, weirdness and gore than the usual, for a movie directed by the Japanese director Takashi Miike. The characters are very well developed and the beautiful Eihi Shiina is perfect in the role of Asami. The scene when she says "deeper, deeper, deeper" is scary and remains imprinted in the mind of the viewer. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Audição" ("Audition")

Note: On 21 March 2017, I saw this film again.

Movies like Scream, I Know What you Did Last Summer, and their teenage-pheremone-reeking ilk have absolutely no right to call themselves "horror movies" when we have a film like Audition to watch.

This movie starts out very slowly, very sweetly, and builds to a fantastic gruesome climax that you don't see coming. Genuinely scary. I am a huge horror movie affectionado, and I have NEVER in my life watched a movie that made gasp like this one did. I was revolted, I was disturbed, I was scared.

Why is this movie so much better than anything I've seen? Subtlety. This movie makes good use of silence, sound effects and off camera action to SUGGEST instead of SHOW you what's happening. It's much more satisfying to watch a movie with this kind of approach than it is to watch people get stabbed with blood spraying all over the place. This movie follows no classic "horror movie rules". It's completely original.

It's not without its faults, of course. The plot is a little strange, and as the movie progresses on it sometimes gets a little hard to follow. Some would also argue that the beginning is too long and too heavy, but I think this is a perfect and even needed contrast to the crazy goings-on that will unfold.

This is a fabulous movie. Check this out if you'd like to see a REAL scary movie.

Everybody faces this situation in his/her life sooner or later. You only just started a relationship and you are about to watch your first movie together. Personally you wouldn't mind a fair portion of violence and chills, but you suspect and worry that the other half prefers a slow and story-driven film with the emphasis on character development. But you needn't worry about this any longer, as Takashi Miike's "Audition" can perfectly satisfy both extremes. At least, theoretically speaking it can! This unforgettable and undeniable Japanese cult monument unfolds as a stylish and slow – better make VERY slow – moving romance drama, yet gradually but surely turns into a stomach-churning and nerve-tangling paranoia thriller with one of the most astonishingly engrossing climaxes ever captured on film. After seven years of living as a widower and devoting everything to raising his son, Aoyama wishes to remarry. A befriended movie-director wants to help Aoyama with meeting new women and arranges auditions for a non-existent movie. Aoyama immediately falls for the beautiful ex-ballet dancer Asami and carefully begins dating her. She's a beautiful young girl, but extremely introvert and mysterious. Aoyama's life subsequently turns into a psychological nightmare, yet the film's main strongpoint is how Miiki never fully reveals whether this girl is a lethal psychopath out for vengeance against the entire male race or that all the horror exclusively spawns from the protagonist's guilt and paranoid mindset. "Audition" is a truly strange and unique film. Miiki almost effortlessly seems to combine ambiances and elements that you always considered impossible to combine. At several moments during the first hour of the film, when the relationship between the two lead characters laboriously develops, you really wonder yourself how such a sober and melodramatic love story could possibly transgress into a reputedly shocking horror film, but it does! And how! The final ten-fifteen minutes are guaranteed to make you cringe and crawl in your seat and, I swear, you'll never look at a piano the same way again. I definitely also wouldn't advise this film if you already have a phobia for needles. Right from the opening sequences, Miiki effectively creates an intense atmosphere of depression and disturbance and maintains it throughout the entire film. He could also clearly rely on highly skilled and professional cinematographers, editors and production designers. The music is stupendous and the performances of both lead actor Ryo Ishibashi and Eihi Shiina are damn near perfect. This was Takashi Miiki's big international breakthrough achievement, and the least you could say is that he deserved it!