31 Days of Horror: Audition

Horror isn’t just a genre; it’s an amalgamation of pop culture, cozy traditions, and things that go bump in the night. This year, we're taking our 31 Days of Horror across the entire cultural spectrum. We’ll be taking a look at movies that scare us, games that kept us paranoid, scary books we cozy up with under blankets, music that sets that spooky tone and seasonal food we’re craving–or strange food you’d have to tie us up and force feed us. Whether you’re looking for something truly terrifying or a cozy autumn haunt, come back every day this month for a new bite-sized review or spooky adjacent list.

Audition tends to be a big introduction to J-Horror. The film is practically ubiquitous with the the country's horror output, right their with Ringu. But unlike Ringu, Audition has maintained it origins, never getting a remake (note: there has been one in development for a long time) and for good reason. Audition is an incredible nuanced and subtle film that presents itself as one thing, transforms slowly into another, then hits you a bus of horror.

Shigeharu Aoyama is a widower who has spent the last seven years caring for his son Shigehiko , who encourages his father to remarry. Enter Shigeharu's friend Yasuhisa Yoshikawa, a film producer who devises a plan to set up a fake audition for a non-existent film in order for Shigeharu to find a wife. Kind of a gross misappropriation of power, but nothing the typical rom-com or romantic drama would have as a center piece.

The film plays everything pretty by the numbers for most of the first two thirds as it introduces Asami Yamazaki, a former ballerina and the girl Shigeharu sets his sights on. In fact outside of one very, and I mean very, unsettling scene, it kinda just feels like a Japanese drama of a widower finding love in a problematic way. Your general romantic misunderstanding plot that surely will wind up being ok, with all the red flags brushed under the rug in the name of love like usual. Right? ...right?

Well it is on a list of horror narratives, so no, it doesn't turn out alright for everyone involved. Instead the final third of the film is one of the darkest, strangest and frightening left turns a movie could take. I'm not sure if Audition has the same issue that films with such a vital a twist typically have since this movie has never been recommended under the guise of its twist (espeically with the poster being a complete spoiler). Rather the fact the film starts off as this benign but inappropriate romance then turns into a complete horror show is the selling point.

I won't go into detail about how it goes off the rails, but it most certainly does and in spectacular uncomfortable fashion. It plays with your preconceived notions, twisting how you feel about everyone's motivations. Whether or not you were weary of Shigeharu's usage of the fake audition or not, he doesn't deserve what the film dishes out.

Despite my thoughts of Audition being impervious to it's twist being revealed, after rewatching this trailer I may retract that statement a bit. Please don;t click this trailer anbd just watch the movie.

Audition is available to stream and as a great 4K release from Arrow! Get you hands on this devious film and have you self a scary night.