Audition Movie Review

Audition [Ôdishon] (1999)

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Written by: Ryû Murakami (novel), Daisuke Tengan (screenplay)
Directed by: Takashi Miike
Starring: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki
Rated: R
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Plot
A widower takes an offer to screen girls at a special audition, arranged for him by a friend to find him a new wife. The one he fancies is not who she appears to be.

Verdict
At first this feels dated with a man auditioning women to date under the guise of a movie role, but men who objectify women ultimately pay the price. I thought this was just another psycho killer, slasher movie, but Asami is the product of a culture that devalues and objectifies women. That mistreatment manifest in Asami's revenge. Even without the themes this is a notable thriller. The fact this seems to be making a point makes it all the better.
It depends.

Review
This jumps right into the plot. Widower Shigeharu's friend sets up movie auditions that will double as an audition to find a date. Shigeharu falls for Asami based on her resume and is further enthralled during her 'audition.' His friend doesn't like the girl, stating something seems off about her, but Shigeharu is smitten.

Ryo Ishibashi and Eihi Shiina play Shigeharu and Asami.

Knowing where this is going, you see all the red flags. Asami's resume doesn't check out, but Shigeharu buys her excuses. Infatuation makes him blind. Asami's past isn't just a mystery, it's a warning sign.

The message felt a bit dated at first, that men need to be careful of women that will seduce and kill them when it's far more likely for a woman to face a threat. Then there's men duping women into a date. That's a lot to dump on this movie, but ultimately Shigeharu objectifies women and pays the price. Asami's revenge can be gross, but it isn't mindless. Asami is a product of a culture that doesn't value women. She's getting revenge against everyone. Shigeharu isn't innocent. If that's how this movie wants to read, then it seems counter intuitive that Asami's motivation is wanting to be loved and the sole object of desire. Credit to the movie that it can be read a few different ways, intentional or not.

This is a solid thriller, that can be not just unsettling but gross. It verges on the horror genre with some of the imagery. This doesn't shy away from blood and gore. Be forewarned of the vomit dog bowl.