Review of Audition (2000) by Alex S — 30 Nov 2013

In the last 10 or 15 years Japan has managed to take the horror genre by storm. Here, with Takashi Miike's Audition (Ôdishon), they've even elevated 'gore' to an art form. It's hard for some, especially ME, to think of severed tongues and ears and fingers as 'art', but when it's used to advance a story, not just for shock and awe, it becomes another color on the artist's pallet..

For the first hour or so Miike leads you along a storyline that would fit into any serious drama or romantic comedy. You may even forget that you're watching a horror film. And then - zap!

Personally, movies of this sub-genre aren't usually my cup of tea but, then again, this is no Hostel or Wolf Creek. When the blood letting began I was 'this close' to turning the thing off. If you're like me all I can say, without spoiling the film for you, is stick with it. The horrific sequences are powerful, yes, but a relatively small part of the film and the pay-off at the end is worth the wait.