Audition

Story

If you want the full sledgehammer-to-the-stomach effect of Audition, stop reading this review now. Just watch it and take the consequences. At first glance, Takashi Miike's jack in the box of a movie works like a romantic comedy: amiable widower Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) decides it's time to find a new wife, and a friend suggests holding a fake audition to find the right girl. It soon becomes clear that there is something wrong with Aoyama's choice. This is no ordinary Fatal Attraction-style thriller, however; Audition slowly and carefully builds into a wrenching exploration of both deep male fears and the stereotype of the cute, submissive Japanese woman. Audition is by no means an easy movie to watch--even hardcore horror fans may have trouble--but it will stay with you for a long, long time. --Ali Davis

DVD Features

• Color
• Widescreen

Movie Details

Cast:

Ryo Ishibashi
Eihi Shiina

MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 115 min
DVD Aspect Ratios: 1.85:1

International rating:

Europe: 18
Japan: R-18
Australia: MA

DVD International release dates:
North America: Jun 4, 02
Europe: Jun 4, 02

VHS International release dates:
North America: Jun 4, 02
Europe: Sep 24, 01