Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by tinear (A) on May 17, 2006 at 04:59:08

Lambs" is not.
In Shohei Imamura's account of a true serial killer's 2 and a 1/2 month crime spree, suspense is almost absent. Instead, a complex character study, with many brilliantly filmed scenes showing deep personal insights, is presented.
The killer is portrayed by Ken Ogata who, when the film was released several decades ago, vaulted to instant fame in Japan.
Imamura resists glorifying the killer, as many Hollywood films inadvertently do, by not making the killings seem like some sort of game, quest, or difficult feat.
Long after the credits roll, you'll remember this character not because of some witticism he muttered as he taunted the detectives or victims, nor because of his fiendish cleverness, outrageous behavior, or brutality. Rather, it is his banal history, "everyman" appearance, and cold logic that make him unforgettable. And frightening.