A creatively thrilling ride.

I will keep this review spoiler-free. I saw this in the cinema today and it was not what I would have guessed in any way (nor did it resemble the works some commenters have mentioned).

All the way through this film had me fully engaged. It didn’t rely on any cheap jumpscares or implausible elements that would lead to plotholes or break immersion; if anything, what’s scary is the plausibility. There was some serious attention to detail from the cast and creators, which lead to me well and truly enjoying the experience.

The actors all nailed their parts, the soundtrack was unobtrusive but used perfectly when it had its moment (a hard feeling to describe but that moment was perfect). I was left with two small questions that would likely be answered by being better at Japanese, however I can also say I was left deeply satisfied with what I watched.

A little point of caution is that this film is graphic - the murder cases aren’t glossed over and there’s injury detail.

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A sensitive and emotional journey.

Yes, my rating may be high, but I don’t think undeservedly so.

It’s hard to know where to start for this review, the film’s cinematography is stunning, attention to detail is just-so, while the characters are realistic and truly embodied by their actors. The soundtrack matched perfectly the events onscreen. When I left the cinema, walking home quietly at night, life felt beautiful. That is the feeling this film left me with.

I also loved the creative decisions made in storytelling, which added major depth and impact to scenes that may have stood out less otherwise. I love the film in a quiet and reflective sense; it doesn’t rush to throw so many things at the viewer at once (with the possible exception of subtitles, being a bilingual film). In that sense the film is much like a journey you go on together with the leads.

The attention to detail with language was not lost on me, as the characters knew each other longer, their language abilities noticeably grew and improved, which may seem small but is of major importance.

I have, at most, one critique for the film; which would relate to it being a bit cliché with one element, but this didn’t take away from my viewing experience, nor that of the friend next to me who didn’t notice it.

If you can watch this in cinemas I absolutely recommend doing so; albeit if you aren’t relatively fluent and literate in Mandarin or Japanese, it may be linguistically tricky. If you’re looking at this sometime in the future and debating if it’s worth your time, please give it a go!

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An unexpected but enjoyable experience.

A unique and distinct story is told by this film. When I started it, I was not aware it would be horror, but these aspects were handled well. If you’re looking for an unguessable but well told story with horror, mystery, and supernatural elements, this may be a good watch for you.

The visual effects were impressively well done, and the sound design very atmospheric and immersive (pun not intended) to complement the well constructed visuals. Overall I’d say the film was very well thought out and as an experience I’d rate it highly. The shots and transitions were also crafted well to fit the pacing and changes that needed to be matched.

Personally, I wouldn’t say I was highly invested in the film character wise, if you’re looking for a character driven experience, probably not the film for you.

What I enjoyed:
- The unique premise involving a VR world modelled to be identical to the real world
- The immersive visual and sound design
- The incorporation of some cultural elements that intertwine with the supernatural elements
- The overall unreadable mystery

What I didn’t enjoy:
- No real feeling of connection or investment with any of the characters
- It wasn’t really a film I would have picked out; I was a captive audience and it was what was available to me

If you’re looking to watch it, good luck to you! I don’t know when it will be widely available and only watched as I had a very long flight with nothing else to be doing.

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Classic style action-comedy done right.

Before I launch into any kind review, you do not need any context to enjoy this film. It can be enjoyed both in isolation and in context of previous works.

A very enjoyable action comedy that you could bring the whole family along to watch. Imagine a James Bond style film, but instead, place a pair of retired Japanese cops with a solid sense of humour and style in the spotlight.

The soundtrack was PERFECTION and I don’t have much else to say about that. The veteran actors still got it, a still stylish and legendary duo. The story was fun, and that’s the easiest way I can describe it.

The film didn’t let itself get bogged down in politics or agendas, it wasn’t trying to appease anyone or anything, it aimed for fun and hit the bullseye.

This made me want to watch the previous instalments of the series. I cannot recommend it enough. It’s the kind of fun that makes people feel nostalgic to about the fun going to the movies years ago.

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Enjoyable, but I would have been frozen.

Watched on opening night.

The only things I can fault in this film are some dodgy special fx choices, the largely irrelevant detail of the outdoors on the mountain being quite clearly fake (which, yes, it needed to be for safety reasons). And, wildly inappropriate layers for that kind of climb (a very small part of the film). If you can get past that, you’re good to go.

However overall this is a decent film. I’d say it feels more like horror/thriller instead of just thriller. The story unfolded in a way that made it overall more intriguing as you learn more and more about the characters. I enjoyed the direction it went in.

If you like the premise, go for it?

Notes: The ending is not the same as in the manga. The film is also bilingual (70% Japanese, 30% Korean).

Warnings: Gore.

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What it says on the tin.

Kuchinai Sakura is a visually appealing film set in semi-rural Aichi prefecture, Japan, with a solid cast, an exemplary soundtrack, and a rather unexpected plot.

Yes, this is a crime mystery drama film. However, the synopsis, while looking like it gives away too much, barely scratches the surface. There is a complexity, weaving all the threads together to tell the story. Most pleasingly for me was the subtle but largely unexpressed undertone of something else, of a softer nature that plays to contrast to the stark events of the opening.

If you are looking for an action-thriller crime drama, best look elsewhere. This is a dialogue-heavy film and linguistically challenging for those who might see it in cinemas. It isn’t absent of all action, but it certainly focuses more on nuance.

The pinnacle of this film, for me, was the final scene. The choice to conduct the ending in the way they did was thought provoking, emotion-driving, and I love the refusal to give the “clean cut” closure many would want from such a film. To put it simply, this film does not stray from the realm of plausible reality, and that is very much a strength.

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Misleading synopsis, messy visual effects.

Yes, unfortunately you read that correctly. I spent the first 15 minutes wondering if I’d somehow stumbled into the wrong historical piece, to which the answer was unfortunately, no, I had not.

The bloom and lighting in this film is so intense I had to look away from brightness hurting my eyes periodically, combined with some immersion-breaking visual effects and background choices. The bloom was more intense than that in most video games, so be aware if you’re sensitive to bright lights.

In regards to the synopsis, it is not false words, but more that it gives the misleading impression that this is a film of revenge and calculated action - the reality being that it was largely slow, meandering, and seldom had action.

Why isn’t my rating lower? The short answer would be casting and supporting characters. The main character’s daughter, his underlings, the rather scary lady who ran a local establishment, all provided engagement. Overall, the acting and casting were solid, if not much else in this film.

It was a funny moment upon realising Kiyohara Kaya was also in this film, being as only two weeks before I was watching her in 18x2 Beyond Youthful Days. She must have been busy.

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That happened.

This film is a rather twisted tail, and in short I will say that if the trailer catches your eye, it is probably right for you.

If you’re looking for something dark with lots of tense - at times unbearably so - moments, dive right on in. I’d joke about there being something for every kind of thriller/mystery enjoyer - a tense criminal investigation, the darker side of humanity, forbidden connections being made, untellable desperation.

I have mixed feelings about some aspects upon reflection, however these are possibly gripes to do with target audience not including me. I’d put this down as noir and it was certainly reflected by the cinema audience; that being a handful of senior citizens (predominantly men), a young couple that left halfway through, and myself.

What is done well? Acting, casting, cinematography, visual and sound design. The acting in particular was immaculate, regardless of taste in what was being acted out.

What didn’t sit so well with me? Mainly the meekness of the female lead, which, it later became clear to me was the draw for the target audience. There was indulgence of the male fantasy that may alienate some, as it somewhat did me.

The nitty-gritty with me and the female lead was the obvious choices made about how she used her voice. The deliberately high pitch, soft breathy tone, combined with a stature I might describe as frail in my own bias, did not sit well with me. Most women are not like this, in Japan or otherwise, and it in some ways drew a line that separated the film from plausible reality. I’m not demanding all female characters be strong in stature or have deep voices, I’d just say such an intense portrayal of these typically “appealing” to some, delicate feminine traits, is not really for me. [Again, quite possibly a target audience issue.] Although I will also at this point take time to mention that the other female characters do not embody these same characteristics, which helps. I very much liked the journalist character and all of her onscreen moments.

Nonetheless, I did very much enjoy the film and the setting (in rural Japan, using dialect) gave it a more distinct flavour that allows it to stand out positively within the thriller/noir genre. It also made aspects of the story more plausible because of being removed from the interconnected network of the city.

[Watched at opening weekend.]

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