Audition
Amazon.co.uk Review
Much of the controversy surrounding Takashi Miike’s Audition centres on the disturbing nature of the later part of the film–understandable when you consider the imprint these admittedly horrific images leave on the viewer–but fails to note the intricate social satire of the rest. This is a film that offers insight into the changing culture of Japan and the generation gap between young and old. Shigeharu Aoyama is looking for an obedient and virtuous woman to love and asks, “Where are all the good girls?”–a comment that seals his fate. A fake audition is organised to find Aoyama a wife. Asami Yamazaki is introduced as the virtuous woman he is looking for, dressing for the majority of the film in white and behaving with the courtesy of an angel, especially when juxtaposed against the brash stupidity of the other girls at the audition. Although his friend takes an immediate “chemical” dislike to her, Aoyama begins a love affair to end all love affairs. But as Asami’s history unfolds we see her pain and torture and slowly understand that the tortured in this instance holds the power to become the torturer. Aoyama is slowly drawn away from his white, metallic and homely environment into the vivid- red and dirty-dark environment of Asami’s sadistic world.
Audition can be viewed on a number of levels, with important feminist, social and human rights issues to be drawn from the story. However, the real power of this film is its descent into the subconscious, to a point where reality is blurred and the audience is unable to decide whether the disturbing images on screen are real or surreal. This refined, hard-hitting and essentially Japanese style of horror is ultimately much more powerful than anything offered by Hollywood. This is a film that will get under your skin and infect your consciousness with a blend of fearless gore and unimaginable torture. It is not for the faint-hearted. –Nikki Disney
If you read all the blurb written about this film, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a Japanese ultra-violent “Fatal Attraction” clone. After all the plot is deceptively simple – middle-aged widower looks for new love, holds fake audition, meets girl, girl becomes mysterious, girl gets nasty…
However, “Audition” is a dark masterpiece, drifting effortlessly from romantic melodrama into dizzying dreamscapes and finally skin-crawling horror. What’s more, the viewer is left with nothing but sympathy for both the menacing Asami and her hapless suitor.
Okay, the violence. Well, while the last hour or so does become gruelling, a lot of it is actually suggested rather than shown explicitly. What’s more there are no sudden shocks and brutal slayings, as in most American horror films. Instead, the viewer is forced to watch, as helpless as Asami’s victim, as she explains the result of a childhood of abuse. “Words can create lies,” she says. “Only pain can be trusted”.
The same is true of the film’s depiction of sex. Asami undresses, but refreshingly we see little nudity – maintaining the feeling of shy innocence that surrounds her. Nothing in this astonishing movie has been designed to tittilate. The performances are all top-notch, especially the two leads. The film’s protagonist is seen looking for an “obedient” wife, but ultimately he is a lonely man looking for affection, not a sexist brute. And as for Asami herself… well, when her murderous nature is revealed she thankfully does not turn into a hammy, eye-rolling maniac. Rather, she is controlled, almost as demure as before, carefully explaining her plans in her childlike, sing-song voice. As she murmurs “Kiri kiri kiri” (Japanese for “Deeper, deeper…”), it’s enough to freeze the blood.
Ultimately, there is no denying that “Audition” is a harrowing descent into real darkness, but if you think you can make the journey it is a stunning and highly rewarding film. Rather than revulsion I was left feeling pity for the main characters. And having seen it several times I find parts of the dream sequences far more disturbing than the much-discussed climax (especially the scene with the sack… you’ll see).
Good luck.
Rating: 5 / 5
Japanese cinema is becoming a well-acclaimed source for novel films, and the best thing about them is that they don’t necessarily look to the US to re-tread the cliches. I remember seeing this film a while back, but some of it still returns to haunt me. I don’t think there are that many US films that could do that….
The story is of a middle-aged widowed man, who seeks to find love again. Encouraged by a friend, they hold a faked ‘audition’ to find him the right girl. However, despite the young girl’s beauty and apparent timidness, there is very little known about her.
If you are an impatient horror fan, this film will not be for you. The majority of the film has its focus on developing the story, and the intrigue. Without this, the payoff will seem bland and unexciting. To those, however, who are willing to take the time to allow the plot, characters and intrigues to develop at the pace dictated by the film, the rewards are substantial, and plentiful.
When the payoff does come, it is pretty brutal, not just physically, but mentally too. Like the closing scenes of a David Lynch film, you’re left reeling, questioning what you’ve just witnessed. What really sets the film apart though, is the false sense of security that the film sets you in before hitting hard!! All in all, it is a hell of a shock.
What’s even more disturbing is that unlike most horror films, which require an element of supernature, “Audition” is a film that feels real. The characters are very down-to-earth. No psychic powers, reincarnations or undead flesh-eaters. Just a few ordinary lives in mostly ordinary circumstances.
A recommendation to those who appreciate that a good horror doesn’t have to be full of hockey masks, shocks, or implausable evils. Of course, however, if you want gore galore, there are a couple of Troma films that I could always recommend….
Rating: 5 / 5
Having read a lot of the reviews on Amazon before watching Audition (being careful not to read any spoilers that is!), I, as I always do with any horror or thriller/drama movie, tried to sit down without any prior knowledge of the movie. That being said, if you know enough about this movie just to know that it exists, you’re probably already aware of some controversial torture scenes in it.
Even knowing this however, I was more than prepared to sit down to this film uneducated and in that form, I was very impressed with Audition. In the first 45 minutes or so, I actually found this to be quite a sad film what with the death of the lead character Aoyama’s wife and his, nicely acted out, portrayal of loneliness. Now I understand this is supposed to be a thriller/horror movie and my review so far gives quite the opposite impression but I feel that the mood this movie managed to send me into during it’s opening hour or so was a great move by the director.
Knowing that Aoyama only concocted his plan through desperation and a bit of a shove from his auditioning friend made me all the more worried for him. As he falls deeper into the killer Asami’s trap, the film gets increasingly uncomfortable. The viewer knows that the violence will happen; it’s just a matter of when and how bad it’ll be. And that’s the main talking point–I didn’t find the violence in this film all that bad. Certainly Saw 1 seemed a bit more disturbing and the role of the disturbed Asami was played so well here that I felt quite sorry for her; her motives (she was a victim of childhood abuse and had constantly been used by men) made some of her actions almost acceptable! That and the fact she’s a damn sight prettier than the jigsaw killer!
At the end of the day, you certainly shouldn’t watch this movie waiting for gore as not only do I find that aspect over hyped, but there’s so much more to this great piece of work; terrific acting, a really engrossing plot and some terrific psychological elements. Five out of five for me but I think a 3 for unappreciative movie fans who’d rather be munching popcorn whilst watching Cabin Fever or Jeepers Creepers.
Rating: 5 / 5
From reading some of the other reviews here it’s obvious that some people bought this thinking it was an extreme slasher flick in the same splat-gore vein as Miike’s other films (Ichi the Killer etc) but that isn’t what it’s about.
It’s a subtle, atmospheric chiller with beautiful cinematography and clever use of social commentry. I think actually it would be better if people just watched it without knowing anything about the plot at all. It might seem a bit slow but the overall effect is worth the hard work.
So I’ll just content myself with saying that the two leads are fantastic, and that Miike’s direction is brilliant, capturing the kind of feather lite whisp of menace and dreamlike imagery that blurs the lines between nightmares and reality.
Rating: 4 / 5
Audition is one of the few horror films I have seen that is genuinely shocking and very creepy. Oddly enough it starts out as a slightly black romantic comedy. The relationship between the producer and the girl he chooses is tenderly and acutely observed. However about halfway through the film it changes from a romantic comedy to a deeply unsettling horror story. The first half allows you to identify with the main characters, which makes the second half far more disturbing.
In comparison to other recent horror films like Scream, the film eschews post modern self-referential humor, monsters and the other tacky elements that Hollywood horror films rely on. Instead it emphases the psychological and as a result is one of the scariest horror flicks I’ve seen.
However a word of warning; the climactic scenes of the film are deeply unpleasant; the violence is realistic and quite creative. Do not watch this film if you are easily shocked. I went with a friend of mine to see it in the cinema, and upon leaving he looked a rather unattractive shade of green.
Rating: 5 / 5