Audition

A macabre and twisted takedown of male entitlement and female rage.

Shigeharu, a lonely widower concocts a plan to find the perfect partner. Setting up a fake movie he auditions a series of women with the covert plan of selecting his future wife. When the demure and beautiful Asami comes to audition, Shigeharu believes he has met the woman of his dreams, unaware of the unspeakable terror he is about to find himself in.

Based on a novel by Ryu Murakami, director Takashi Miike, who is no slouch when it comes to extreme cinema (see Ichi the Killer, 2001) outdoes himself here with this horrifying take on social isolation and deep-seated misogyny. Subsequently appearing on many best horror films of all-time lists since its release, the film’s growing influence and reputation won’t prepare you for its twisted finale, which is equally shocking, macabre and extreme.

– Spiro Economopoulos, Guest Curator