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In Japanese with English and Chinese Subtitles
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Shinya Tsukamoto
Cast: Ryuhei Matsuda, hitomi, Masanobu Ando
RunTime: 1 hr 46 mins
Released By: GVP & Festive Films
Rating: M18
Official Website: http://www.festivefilms.com/nightmare
Opening
Day: 19 April 2007
Synopsis
:
A Japanese detective investigates two mysterious
suicides, somehow connected as the two victims dialed "0"
on their mobiles moments before their death. The detective
comes to learn of a man who has the supposed ability to manipulate
people's dreams, and if the case is going to be solved, the
detective succumbs to the realization that she must dial the
mysterious "0" herself...
Movie
Review:
Nightmare Detective is an atmospheric fantasy film
that has a villain who seemed to have jumped straight out
of an X-Files episode. It's about dreams, alternate realities
and worked around the topic of suicides in Japan. Directed
by Shinya Tsukamoto who also had a role in the film, those
familiar with the director's works will come to expect that
this will not be your usual run-of-the-mill thriller.
The Nightmare Detective (Ryuhei Matsuda) is a John Constantine
equivalent, only that instead of having the ability to traverse
through Hell and back, he has the power to travel to anyone's
dreams, analyze them, to hear the thoughts of man, or inflict
pain from the bringing back of memories, just like how The
Crow does it. Except that the Nightmare Detective feels cursed
at his uncanny abilities, and is constantly seeking a way
to end his suffering. A pained, suicidal hero, now that's
something refreshing, though his dream world alter ego existence
might ring similar to Freddie on Nightmare of Elm Street.
Leggy J-pop singer Hitomi is the main star of the show, despite
the title suggesting otherwise. As rookie field detective
Keiko Kirishima, she's the wide-eyed inductee to investigative
homicide police work, and her first cases involve the peculiar
deaths of victims who dialed "0" on their mobile
phones just moments before their demise. Unwilling to classify
the case simply as suicides, she seeks to investigate into
the seemingly implausible circumstances of their deaths, and
tried to enlist the help of the Nightmare Detective. But like
passionate, driven detectives willing to put their lives on
the line, Keiko offers herself as bait and calls "0",
following in the footsteps of the victims, and opening up
her dreams to access, hoping that the Nightmare Detective
will play the reluctant saviour.
Sounds like a perverse Ringu, with the mobile phone as a replacement
for the video tape. In fact, the introductory scene to the
Nightmare Detective character was classic J-horror at its
best, coupled with nifty special effects. But unless you pay
close attention, you'll be trapped in a myriad of dreams within
dreams, alternating worlds, and the likes. Some scenes become
repetitive, some became unintentionally funny, and Hitomi's
scared look really dominated the screen, somewhat bringing
an added dimension in itself through her bug-eyed, frightened
facial expressions. Ryuhei Matsuda carries a pained look throughout,
neither feeling supreme over his abilities, and always feeling
like the wrong guy thrust with responsibilities he does not
wish to have.
Depending on how receptive you are towards the fantasy thriller
genre, you might find Nightmare Detective either mind blowing
in its treatment and technique, or prefer to see it as a mix-mash,
beating around the bush of an investigative supernatural tale,
with a possibility of a sequel already built in. As a word
of caution, you might want to bring along a bag or two in
case you throw up from too much shaky camera movements.
Movie
Rating:
(Possibly
a kick-start to the faltering popularity of J-horror, Nightmare
Detective demonstrates potential still left to be milked)
Review by Stefan Shih
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