Cold Fish

Even though the protagonist (Shamoto) is an adult, this is essentially a coming-of-age movie in a doomed world. Shamoto is introduced to Murata, a psychopath. Everyone seems to do what Murata wants them to, including Shamoto's wife and daughter. Shamoto tries to go against the grain, to say 'I don't want things to be like this.' But he finds himself alone against everything and has to learn some unpleasant truths about the world.

This is a very bleak movie and over-the-top in its negativity. It can be hard to watch at times but the violence is not gratuitous. It serves a purpose. The (brilliant) ending would not have the same impact without what came before.

Even though this is a crazy, overblown movie about a psycho killer, it only uses that as framework to address more universal issues of abuse, authority, dependency and responsibility.

I don't usually write reviews here. Just wanted to defend a very good, tragic and thought-provoking movie. This is definitely not just more gore for gore's sake.

Nobuyuki Syamoto is an unassuming fellow running an unremarkable tropical fish shop in Shizuoka prefecture. His life is dreary at best and at worst untenable: his wife is tired of him and his daughter hates them both. After the daughter is caught shoplifting, an eccentric, gregarious rival fish seller by the name of Yukio Murata smooths the matter over, inviting Syamoto to his much grander shop to meet his wife. Murata decides to give the daughter a job, and it seems the two families are destined for friendship. Before long the whole Syamoto family are under Murata and his wife's spell; and their intentions for them prove to be far less than honorable.

Sion Sono's 'Cold Fish' is a terrific, stylish thriller full of black humor, psychological horror and gory, unexpected moments. Inspired by the case of Sekine Gen and Hiroko Kazama- the perpetrators of the infamous Saitama Dog Lover Murders- the film is sharply written by Sono and Yoshiki Takahashi, constantly feeling fresh and inventive in its' approach to the material. The humor comes fast and frequent, though it's of a dark kind not everyone will find to their tastes. Though the story concerns murder and madness, it's also about control, about how Murata and his wife insinuate themselves into the lives of the Syamotos, changing them irrevocably. It's a twisted, bloody tale for sure; but it's also one that'll make you think.

Under Sono's watchful gaze, Shinya Kimura brings us stylish, striking cinematography. It is naturalistic, atmospheric work that makes sublime use of colour and shadow, with Murata's aquatic emporium being shot in a particularly interesting fashion. Takashi Matsuzuka's lush production design makes for detailed, realistic looking environments, with the two fish shops being especially visually striking and rich. Satoe Araki's costume design is arguably less interesting, though some of his work for the female side of the cast is splendid and memorable.

Editor Jun'ichi Itô has worked numerous times with Sono- most recently on 2017's 'Tokyo Vampire Hotel'- and the two share a fruitful working relationship. Itô's work is intuitive and rhythmic, bringing the film together masterfully and making the nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime fly by. Tomohide Harada's score must also be mentioned, as it is eerily beautiful and evocative work that heightens the film's tension and drama. Harada also makes effective use of pieces from the likes of Mahler that merge well with his original score and complement the film.

'Cold Fish' has a great cast all performing at the top of their games. Mitsuru Fukikoshi stars as Nobuyuki Syamoto, giving a grounded performance of depth and range that will impress any who see the film. He is the straight man of the piece, and he carries 'Cold Fish' through crazed, bloody situations with an ease few actors could pull off. Downtrodden, then startled, and finally exasperated, Fukikoshi runs the full gamut of emotions and never once comes across as melodramatic or over-blown.

Denden gives the performance of his life as the charming, sinister and rather mad Yukio Murata. Bringing humour and charisma to the character, Denden's Murata is a force of nature as wild as a tornado and as devastating as a tsunami. He also clearly loves playing such a villainous character, as there's an ever-present twinkle in his eye; even in the darkest of scenes. You'll feel quite like the Syamoto family by the end; fully in his thrall, amazed and entertained by his fantastic, layered performance.

Megumi Kagurazaka co-stars as Syamoto's wife Taeko and gives a towering performance of no vanity that is both memorable and beguiling. Taeko isn't exactly likable as written, but Kagurazaka imbues the character with such grace and strength that she'll almost certainly win you over. Rounding out the main cast is Asuka Kurosawa as Murata's wife Aiko, who is as unhinged, as manipulative and as charming as her husband. Kurosawa is probably best known for her dedicated performance as Rinko in Shinya Tsukamoto's 'A Snake of June,' but her work in 'Cold Fish' is arguably the stronger of the two performances- and certainly the more entertaining.

Sion Sono's 'Cold Fish' is a brilliant, darkly comedic film that contains gore and humor a-plenty. Featuring outstanding performances from the cast, excellent, stylish visuals and a great score from Tomohide Harada; the film is a technical and creative achievement on every level. The subject matter may put some viewers off, but for those who enjoy black-comedy and eat up any true-crime story, 'Cold Fish' is a highly recommended dish: a cinematic delicacy.

Every now and then I come across a title that speaks to me. Now don't take me the wrong way, I don't necessarily mean that I can relate to it but it sends a message and reminds us of what we humans are really capable of. In the dark of all Hollywood movies, Japanese action-movies and romantic comedies that flood the box offices lie small gritty and pitch black movies that just wait to be found by those who can handle it.

This isn't a movie for those that only like mindless gore like Saw or Hostel. Instead it delves deep into the darkness we humans can fall into and it doesn't let us out even once. Someone wrote that those who are into dark comedies could take a liking to this movie, I'd say that if you take this on as a dark comedy then you're missing the point of the movie and shouldn't be watching it in the first place. For that purpose there are far more gory "entertainment" out there to laugh or giggle at.

If you're a fan of really dark thrillers with drama and characters with depth then you'll definitely love this movie. Others may love it as well but at the very least you should not watch this if you have a weak heart, and that's not only due to the gore in this movie. I'd go so far as to say that in terms of atmospheric darkness not even the Vengeance Trilogy comes close. This becomes even more apparent due to the fact that this movie is loosely based on events that truly have transpired.

I'm not gonna' delve into the story of the movie as I myself lose a lot of the surprise when I hear about a movie like this. I hope I've been of help and that you'll be ready to see what may be your darkest movie yet (if you're able to not try and laugh it off).

Mild mannered Nobuyuki Shamoto (Mitsuru Fukikoshi), owner of a modest tropical fish shop, lives with his pretty teenage daughter Mitsuki (Hikari Kajiwara) and surprisingly hot second wife Taeko (Megumi Kagurazaka); sadly, the women in his life do not see eye to eye (to put it mildly). When Mitsuko is caught shoplifting, Yukio Murata (Denden), a successful businessman who also sells exotic aquatic livestock, steps in and gets Mitsuki off with a warning. Brash, charismatic, and cunning Murata uses this as an opportunity to begin manipulating the grateful Shamoto family, offering desperate Mitsuki a job as one of his store girls (all of whom are pretty, and wear tight vests and short shorts!), bringing meek Yukio under his wing as his apprentice, and sneaking a shag with the not-very-content Taeko.

Murata also reveals to a Nobuyuki his unique method of dealing with difficult acquaintances: he poisons them and then, with help from his obedient and rather sexy wife Aiko (Asuka Kurosawa), takes the bodies to a remote shack where he makes them 'disappear' (ie., chops them up, burns the bones, and sprinkles the remains in the woods). When Murata insists that Yukio help dispose of a victim, he is too shocked and scared too refuse; now, as an accomplice to murder, he finds himself trapped by the over-bearing and frankly quite scary Murata—fearful not only for himself, but also for the lives of his wife and daughter.

However, a man can only be pushed so far: after several more stomach-churning visits to the shack, learning of his wife's infidelity, suffering a beating from Murata, and being forced to have sex with Aiko (the poor guy!), Nobiyuki finally snaps, attacking Mr and Mrs Murata with a biro (not the greatest of weapons, perhaps, but it does the trick). Now it is time for Yukio Murata to disappear, with Mrs. Murata only too happy to help, clearly turned on by the fact that Nobiyuki has at last grown a pair. The now empowered Nobiyuki also sets about straightening out his ungrateful wife and daughter, using methods definitely NOT sanctioned by most family guidance counsellors.

Other reviews here on IMDb comment on what a harsh viewing experience Cold Fish is, with its brutal murders, bodily dismemberment, rape and in your face gore; but while it's certainly not what I'd call family viewing, I wasn't too fazed by the extreme content, finding much of the film darkly humorous rather than disturbing (but then I've watched a fair few gruesome Asian movies in my time, and am probably a tad desensitised). Indeed, I was ready to dismiss the film as a far-fetched and overlong wish-fulfilment fantasy for downtrodden Japanese males, when I decided to watch the interview with investigative journalist Jake Adelstein on the extras disc, something that altered my perception of the film slightly. Although the beginning of Cold Fish had stated that it was based on a true story, I had taken this with a large pinch of salt (so many movies make this wild claim); as it happens, most of what director Shion Sono depicts proves to be not all that far from the truth (at least until Nobiyuki snaps), making his film a lot more chilling in retrospect.

Nobuyuki Syamoto (Mitsuru Fukikoshi) muddles though life with a new wife, a daughter who shoplifts, and a crummy little fish store. He is destined for nothing but boredom and stargazing.

He comes into contact with Yukio Murata (Denden), who is a gregarious individual with a fish supermarket staffed by buxom and scantily clad girls. He takes Syamoto under his wing and introduces him to his hobby - killing people.

This is a black comedy that never bores and has some really good scenes. In one the family of a missing man comes in with their Yakuza buddies. While Yukio is putting on a show, his wife is in the next room with Syamoto's daughter in the process of seducing her. The camera goes back and forth elevating the comedy until they send the family packing.

The transformation of Syamoto occurs suddenly, and ferociously, with jaw dropping action in the end. The level of blood and gore rises to new heights and it gets so bizarre that you can't take your eyes away.