Audition (1999)

If you want the full sledgehammer-to-the-stomach effect of Audition, stop reading this review now. Just watch it and take the consequences. At first glance, Takashi Miike's jack in the box of a movie works like a romantic comedy: amiable widower Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) decides it's time to find a new wife, and a friend suggests holding a fake audition to find the right girl. It soon becomes clear that there is something wrong with Aoyama's choice. This is no ordinary Fatal Attraction-style thriller, however; Audition slowly and carefully builds into a wrenching exploration of both deep male fears and the stereotype of the cute, submissive Japanese woman. Audition is by no means an easy movie to watch--even hardcore horror fans may have trouble--but it will stay with you for a long, long time. --Ali Davis Amazon.com

Ugghh!!!

The story unfolded ever so slowly and towards the end it became confusing. It's just a messed up story. July 19, 2008

Loneliness Kills...

AUDITION concerns a lonely widower who holds a fake movie audition in order to screen potential brides. All seems fine, as the women are all young and beautiful, especially one girl in particular. This stunning woman has captivated our hero so completely, that he is blind to any hint of danger. He is, after all, tired of being alone. His desperation leads him to dismiss any advice or evidence that could jeopardize his future marriage to this dream-girl. Alas, love is truly blind! About two-thirds of the way through this tale, we learn just how deadly loneliness, coupled w/ an extremely damaged mind can be. Miike has fashioned a horror movie that tricks us into believing we are watching a touching love story. He strings us along, offering glimpses into a darkness that waits to spring up and snuff out all hope. The clues are there, but I found myself ignoring them, just like the hero does, hoping for an outcome that cannot be. Nope, this is a honeymoon ending in bloodshed. A wonderful dream, interrupted by insanity and mutilation. A story of loss, longing, childhood abuse, and vengeance. A shocker, best viewed without prior warning. Highly recommended... July 18, 2008

Fun movie, then a little painful

The infamous needle torture is more conceptually gruesome than it appears in practice at the end of this film, but the foot amputation by wire is [...]hard-to-watch.

This is a pretty normal film about a man who lost his wife to illness and is being encouraged by his colleagues and his son to find another partner. That is, until it goes bonkers at the end ... a nice manipulation technique by the director. Eihi Shiina's range of performance from ideal femininity to psycho-killer is fabulous and accounts for a sizable chunk of the shock we experience at the end of the film. You'll watch the wire part because this woman is so beautiful and the pleasure she takes in her work so adorable. July 12, 2008

Not really effective

I have seen way to many horror/thriller films for this to have any effect on me. I was expecting something far more dark and interesting. I have heard many things about this film. It is supposed to be scary, crazy, amazing torture scenes, its not for the squeemish, etc. I must say, after watching this, that this is borderline mild, compared to other films I've seen. It is certainly not a horror film, but a messed up love story disguised as a thriller. There really is no air of suspense, no jumps of any kind, and it makes no sense. The supposedly infamous torture scene is very boring and again, very mild, unless you are afraid of needles...

I realise that violence and gore do not necessarily make a movie. Obviously, it is the case with great films like the Sixth Sense and The Others. However, Audition has nothing at all to offer. The story line is confusing, jumpy as hell and the end leaves you feeling absolultely nothing. The entire thing feels like a waste. If you want to watch a truly gruesome, wicked and suspenseful film with an OMG type of ending, watch the french film "Inside." June 23, 2008

Watch the director's commentary also

There's already plenty of other reviews about the movie itself, so I'll just skip right to my own thought: be sure to watch director Takashi Miike's commentary. The last part of the movie does get confusing, what with different characters and scenes getting jumbled together and conversations changing. The director's commentary clarifies some things as he explains what he was trying to communicate with a particular scene or with a character's actions. Not all questions are answered though, but enough to make the movie a richer experience (as opposed to an "ok, what exactly happened here?" experience). Even the "kiri kiri kiri kiri" words spoken by Asami are given some additional explanation by Miike that, to me, makes them all the more creepier. June 19, 2008

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