The dubiously titled SUICIDE CIRCLE begins with - shock, horror - the mass suicide of fifty four unrelated high school girls who throw themselves under a high speed train at a busy Tokyo station. The police have a brief investigation but soon rule out the possibility of foul play; it is, in their eyes, a tragic accident.
Unfortunately, over the ensuing weeks more and more teenagers start to jump, slit and suffocate their way into the news and the Japanese police are forced to consider the possibility of criminal intent. There's even talk among high schoolers of a 'suicide circle' - groups of youngsters who agree to take their own lives in spectacular stunts - and a mysterious website which appears to be keeping tally of all the deaths... before they even happen.
SUICIDE CIRCLE is a movie I wasn't expecting a great deal from so it was a pleasant surprise to find it interesting and thought provoking from the very start. I wouldn't call it an out-and-out horror movie though, as it's more typical of Japanese movies in the pre-RINGU era in that there's very few actual jumps or scares; the idea that some of the things are happening are far scarier than their execution in the movie.
The storyline does go into a five/ten minute 'lull' near the final reel but everything is brought to a satisfying conclusion at the end with a nice twist I for one didn't see coming. It's very different from anything Hollywood has to offer but if you're a fan of Asian cinema - and movies like RINGU, BATTLE ROYALE, TOMIE and so on - this should be right up your alley. Recommended. ***.5 / *****
Unfortunately, over the ensuing weeks more and more teenagers start to jump, slit and suffocate their way into the news and the Japanese police are forced to consider the possibility of criminal intent. There's even talk among high schoolers of a 'suicide circle' - groups of youngsters who agree to take their own lives in spectacular stunts - and a mysterious website which appears to be keeping tally of all the deaths... before they even happen.
SUICIDE CIRCLE is a movie I wasn't expecting a great deal from so it was a pleasant surprise to find it interesting and thought provoking from the very start. I wouldn't call it an out-and-out horror movie though, as it's more typical of Japanese movies in the pre-RINGU era in that there's very few actual jumps or scares; the idea that some of the things are happening are far scarier than their execution in the movie.
The storyline does go into a five/ten minute 'lull' near the final reel but everything is brought to a satisfying conclusion at the end with a nice twist I for one didn't see coming. It's very different from anything Hollywood has to offer but if you're a fan of Asian cinema - and movies like RINGU, BATTLE ROYALE, TOMIE and so on - this should be right up your alley. Recommended. ***.5 / *****