Audition (1999)-
Television executive Aoyama, a lonely widower, is talked into holding an audition for an actress, from which he will choose a girl to date. The lucky lady is Asami, a 24 year-old former ballet dancer. But there is something strange about her, which Aoyama, being madly in love, ignores...
I wouldn't call this a "horror" film. It's more an understated, yet painfully tense thriller. Despite how infamous the picture is, there is astonishingly little blood or violence. Hell, there is more death and brutality in 10 minutes of a slasher (or any modern torture porn) than there is in all of Audition. But neither the slasher nor torture porn will make you as uneasy as this.
Instead, "Audition" is a masterfully crafted tale of tension. Of the film's two hour run-time, ninety minutes chronicle Aoyama's life and feelings. We observe the hopes and behavior of a man freshly in love. Through this, one gets to know and care for the man, from Aoyama witnessing his wife's death seven years ago, to his love for a bright, caring son, to his self-doubts.
Throughout this, there is a creepy, ominous vibe which is overwhelming at times. However, there are no jump scares, and it's only at the very end that there is any violence. Aoyama ignores any disturbing signs about Asami, such as his inability to contact anyone that knows her. He is too deeply in love. This makes the character feel eminently real.
I also loved the dream sequences going back and forth through time, revealing more of Asami's past, while also delving deep within Aoyama's own headspace. We observe new scenes that occurred during their dates, as well as fantastical elements tapping into Aoyama's subconscious. It's sometimes easy to dismiss similar techniques as artsy bullshit, but it works brilliantly here, revealing more about each character than exposition ever could.
I applaud Miike for such an original tale. It's too easy and boring, especially in 1999, to make yet another torture porn. Instead, he presented an astoundingly tense, beautiful, well-crafted tale. Definitely a classic I would recommend anyone to check out.
80/100