“Audition 1999” is a Japanese horror film about a lonely widower who holds a fake audition to find a new wife. The movie starts off normal, but quickly becomes disturbing and creepy, with scenes of torture and mutilation. The atmosphere is tense and unsettling, like a slow-building nightmare that grips you tighter with each passing minute. In the end, it’s a disturbing and unforgettable movie that will make you question your own sanity.
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Review
In 1999, Japanese director Takashi Miike made waves in the horror genre with his film “Audition.” The movie tells the tale of a widowed father named Aoyama who, with the help of a friend, holds fake auditions to find a new wife. He becomes enamored with Asami, a young and seemingly innocent woman. As the relationship progresses, however, Aoyama discovers that there is more to Asami than meets the eye.
The storyline of “Audition” has been praised for its slow-burn build-up that leads to gruesome acts of violence in its final act. The plot forces viewers to question what they think they know about relationships and love.
“I had never seen anything like it before,” said horror icon Eli Roth. “Miike took his time to build up these characters and their relationships. By the time things turn violent, it’s earned.”
Miike’s film also gained notoriety for its gruesome scenes that involve torture and dismemberment. The movie’s climax is one of the most shocking moments in modern cinema, causing viewers to gasp in disbelief at what they are seeing on screen.
While some critics have criticized “Audition” for being exploitative or misogynistic, others have praised it for shining a light on patriarchal attitudes towards women in Japanese society.
“Audition is an indictment of toxic masculinity,” said film historian David Bordwell. “It shows us what happens when men try to exert control over women through marriage or romantic relationships.”
One standout performance in the film comes from actress Eihi Shiina who plays Asami. She brings an innocence and vulnerability to the character that makes her transformation all the more shocking.
“I wanted to portray Asami as someone who was both fragile and dangerous,” said Shiina in an interview with Film Comment magazine. “I had to approach each scene differently depending on where she was emotionally.”
The score of “Audition” also deserves attention. The film features haunting music that adds to the unsettling atmosphere. The use of silence is also notable, creating moments where the audience is left to fill in the blanks and imagine what might happen next.
The film was a critical success and helped introduce Miike as a major player in the horror genre. It won several awards at international film festivals, including Best Director at the Sitges Film Festival.
Despite its success, “Audition” has remained a controversial film, with some audiences finding it too gruesome or disturbing. However, its impact on horror cinema cannot be denied, with many filmmakers citing it as an influence on their own work.
“Audition is a masterclass in slow-burn horror,” said director Jordan Peele. “It’s not just about shock value – although it certainly has that – but about building tension and creating characters that viewers care about before pulling the rug out from under them.”
The cinematography of “Audition” also deserves attention. The use of close-ups creates an intimacy with the characters while also highlighting their emotional states. Meanwhile, long takes allow tense scenes to unfold in real-time without cutting away.
Miike’s direction is also notable for his use of color and lighting. The film is bathed in blue hues which create a sense of melancholy and unease. Meanwhile, reds are used sparingly but effectively to signal violence or danger.
The movie’s development was not without controversy either. In 2008, a former Japanese politician claimed that he had been inspired by “Audition” when he murdered a female colleague. While there is no evidence that Miike’s movie directly influenced the politician’s actions, it once again raised questions about the responsibility of artists when it comes to their work’s impact on society.
Regardless of any criticisms or controversies surrounding it, “Audition” remains one of Japan’s most iconic horror films and a testament to the power of slow-burn storytelling.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 115
- Release : 1999-10-06
- Genre : Horror, Drama
- Cast : Ryo Ishibashi as Shigeharu Aoyama, Eihi Shiina as Asami Yamazaki, Jun Kunimura as Yasuhisa Yoshikawa, Tetsu Sawaki as Shigehiko Aoyama, Renji Ishibashi as Old Man in Wheelchair
- Crew : Takashi Miike as Director, Tatsuo Ozeki as Production Design, Koji Endo as Original Music Composer, Yasushi Shimamura as Editor, Satoshi Fukushima as Producer
- Popularity 21.916
- Budget : $250,000
- Revenue : $359,853
- Company : Basara Pictures, Creators Company Connection, Omega Project
- Summary : Seven years after the death of his wife, widower Shigeharu seeks advice on how to find a new wife from a colleague. Taking advantage of their position as a film company, they stage an audition. Interviewing a series of women, Shigeharu is enchanted by the quiet Asami. But soon things take a twisted turn as Asami isn’t what she seems to be.
- Tagline : She always gets a part.
