Audition is Yet Another Excellent Entry to
the Horror Genre from Asia
Takashi Miike, Director of Audition,
tells an intense story leading to a climax of controlled chaos.
Written
by The Zombie Master Lee
Roberts February 11, 2007
Release:
1999 Directed by: Takashi Miike (Mee-Yay-Kay) Written by: Ryu Murakami and Daisuke Tengan
Starring:
Ryo Ishibashi as Shigeharu Aoyama Eihi Shiina as Asami Yamazaki Tetsu Sawaki as Shigehiko Aoyama Jun Kunimura as Yasuhisa Yoshikawa
Direction is just as important as story and even more
important than acting. For this reason I probably have more favorite
directors than I do actors or actresses. Takashi Miike is easily in my
top five all time favorite directors. Before there was Imprint
(Masters of Horror Season 1 Episode 13), there was Ichi the
Killer and Happiness of the Katakuris.
And before those two cinematic gems there was Audition;
an absolute masterpiece of Japanese horror film making.
Taken from a novel written by Ryu Murakami, Audition
starts by introducing us to a widower, Shigeharu Aoyama, and his
teenage son Shigehiko. Shigehiko doesn’t want his father to
be alone any more. Aoyama’s friend, Yoshikawa,
doesn’t want him to be alone any more either and devises a
way to let Aoyama pick someone. They will put together a fake audition
for a script and put out a casting call for the lead female character.
During the hours of interviews, in walks Asami Yamazaki, an attractive
and soft spoken young woman that seems to strike a chord with Aoyama.
The
two have a very awkward first night out but seem to open up to each
other after awhile. While parting ways Asami says that she will be
waiting for Aoyama’s call. When we see Asami next, she is
sitting on the floor in her apartment impatiently waiting by the phone
for that call. It is this scene in Audition that
first gives us the idea that something is not quite right with Asami.
Audition
continues to set up the story on a slow but deliberate pace
that’s sole purpose is to lead you to the final 15 minutes of
controlled chaos.
Oh
my!!! Takashi Miike is an expert story teller. His directing style has
inspired many yet is matched by none. He knows exactly where his limit
is and deliberately attempts to push himself beyond it. Most of his
films have been called disturbing but not because of the subject matter
but because of his detail of realism. When the scene in Audition
calls for a foot to be cut off Takashi Miike wants it to look as close
to the real thing without actually cutting the foot off.
The acting is incredible also. Ryo Ishibashi is the epitome of a middle
aged widower looking for another chance at companionship. His subtle
changes in demeanor bring Aoyama to life which is a necessity for the
viewer to feel an emotional bond to him.
Eihi Shiina does a fabulous job as Asami also. She seems to become
Asami to the point that you begin to question yourself as to whether or
not the feelings that you had for her were real because if they were
then you could easily find yourself in the same predicament of Aoyama.
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The acting is incredible also. Ryo Ishibashi is the epitome of a middle
aged widower looking for another chance at companionship. His subtle
changes in demeanor bring Aoyama to life which is a necessity for the
viewer to feel an emotional bond to him. 
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