Overview: When a recent widower is advised by his son to find a new wife, he seeks the advice of a colleague having been out of the dating scene for many years.

One of the most notorious J-Horror films ever made, Takashi Miike’s Audition exploded onto the festival circuit at the turn of the 21st century to a chorus of awards and praise. The film catapulted Miike to the international scene and paved the way for such other genre delights as Ichii the Killer and 13 Assassins.

When recent widower Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi, American Yakuza) is advised by his son to find a new wife, he seeks the advice of a colleague having been out of the dating scene for many years. The two men decide to take advantage of their position working at a film company to stage an audition to find the perfect partner.

Interviewing a series of women, Shigeharu soon becomes enchanted by Asami (Eihi Shiina), a quiet, 24-year-old woman, who is immediately responsive to his charms. However, events quickly take a very dark and twisted turn as we find that Asami isn’t what she seems to be.

Pulling the audience into a story that will lead to one of the most harrowing climaxes in cinema history, Miike twists and turns us through delirious editing and shocking visuals for one of the most depraved nightmares of all time, now presented in stunning 4K UHD.

Blu-ray Verdict: It’s been a long time since a film burrowed so deep under my skin and just stayed there. This is easily Takashi Miike’s best, and most unsettling, film to date, and he does it (mostly) without all the goo he’s normally associated with!

An aging businessman decides (after some prodding from his son) that he should start looking at re-marrying. Being a middle-aged businessman makes it hard for him to simply go out and meet girls, so his friend (a film producer) comes up with the idea of holding an audition for a quasi-real movie that he can use to meet some women.

None of the applicants interest the man, except for one. A lovely young girl that seems all to perfect to be real. The man begins to court her, despite is friend’s advice to the contrary, and soon discovers that she is nothing of what she seems to be and may be holding onto some very dark secrets.

Miike could not have structured the film better. Early scenes are full of levity and some quirky comical bits (many of the audition scenes are really funny), but as the film progresses the tone gradually moves farther from light to dark. The tone shift is so naturally implemented that it never feels sudden or out of place. By the time all surrealistic hell breaks loose the movie has you and won’t let go.

For a character driven piece like this, even Miike’s direction couldn’t have saved it if the writing and acting weren’t up to par. Fortunately they both exceed genre standards. You feel sympathetic for the businessman, he is a lonely man and would appear to be a fine mate for most any girl. Yet, you also find yourself shunning him for his deceptive tactics. The girl is much the same way in generating mixed emotions; she is unnerving and just not right, but she seems so sweet and innocent that you really want the two of them to end up happy.

For want of not making this sound like some melodrama, read this: I have never heard two grown men scream so loudly watching a movie. I refuse to spoil anything about the scenes in question, but when they happen you’ll know. Men will definitely find this freakier than women, but many of the scares work well without regard. Gore hounds might be disappointed though, as the film finds fear in a psychological way for the most part and avoids copious violence. Enough praise can’t be heaped upon this film, one of the best genre pictures ever and one of the scariest as well. [K.D.]

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
Brand new 4K restoration from the original Super 16mm camera negative by Arrow Films approved by director of photography Hideo Yamamoto
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Newly restored original lossless stereo and 4.0 audio, plus optional DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
Optional English subtitles
Introduction by director Takashi Miike
Audio commentary by director Takashi Miike and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan
Audio commentary by Miike biographer Tom Mes
Callback, a brand new interview with actor Ryo Ishibashi
Ties that Bind, an interview with director Takashi Miike
Damaged Romance, an appreciation by Japanese cinema historian Tony Rayns
Archive interviews with stars Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Renji Ishibashi and Ren Osugi
Deeper Deeper Into Audition, an audio essay by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
Trailers
Image gallery
Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Anton Bitel, Jennie Kermode and Jamie Graham
Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Dark Inker - Sampson and original UK artwork by Graham Humphreys

Official Purchase Link

www.arrowvideo.com