Cold Fish

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).

Poor mild mannered Shamoto is trapped in his little aquarium business with his hot, but frustrated wife and his teen-aged daughter who loathes her step mother and has nothing but contempt for her father. Into their life roars Murata, a fast talking, vaguely sleazy, but oddly friendly rival, who owns a much slicker, larger aquarium business. And maybe he has a little bit of other things going on in the side, in more ways than one. Shamoto is going to get the ride of his life, and he isn't going to enjoy it.

This film is impossible to fit into any neat category. Its part horror, part black comedy (its extremely funny at times), part serial killer movie, with a huge dollop of allegory about business and Japanese society. And its also a hoot - brilliant acting and direction keeps you hooked as the film gets gorier and gorier. The entire cast is compelling as a group of seemingly ordinary people who are teetering on either side of major personality disorders. And its not always clear who the real psychopaths are. Only the fish seem normal.

This certainly isn't a film for everyone. But if you enjoy a black comedy and have a strong stomach for some very realistic looking gore, then this will certainly keep you distracted for its 140 minutes or so.

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.

i've watched a few Japanese movies in recent years and mostly they are nearly always really interesting films. Cold Fish has to be the strangest Japanese film i have ever seen.

This is the story of two men who own two very different tropical fish stores and they are two men who have very different and extreme personalities.

This is a very graphic and violent movie that contains scenes that must have put the actors through the ringer. The physical and sexual violence is very real , it's just a shame that the film is far too long and that makes the extreme scenes lose their edge the longer the film goes on.

I cant begin to explain the moral's of the story and i'm not even sure i liked this film but i can appreciate what the actors went through.

If you interested in watching something very , very different , then Cold Fish will be right up your street.

Mr. Sono is an uncompromising filmmaker. His resume is filled with odd characters, unnatural situations and twists that come at you from nowhere. This is based on a true story about a sadistic couple who killed dog lovers (the truth is stranger than fiction). In this film, Mr. Shamoto (Mitsuru Fukikoshi) owns a tropical fish shop. His second wife is Taeko (the still amazing Asuka Kurosawa, who was the star of the stunning "A Snake Of June) and his daughter Mitsuko live with him. Mitsuko shoplifts and is threatened with the police but Mr. Murata (a terrificly over the top Denden)persuades that shop owner to let her go. It turns out, Murata owns a large tropical fish store and agrees to have Mitsuko work for him. If this sounds too perfect, too much like a perfect turn of events..it is. Eventually, Mr. Shamoto leans about Murata but he is in too deep by then. Not for the faint of heart, but it is a riveting, sometimes gory horror/drama, with a little black comedy thrown in. The acting is uniformly very good. Worthy of your time, especially for admirers of Mr. Sono's work, but not for everyone.