Marebito (2004)

A fear-obsessed freelance cameraman (Shinya Tsukamoto) investigates an urban legend involving mysterious spirits that haunt the subways of Tokyo.

Director:

Takashi Shimizu

Writers:

Chiaki Konaka (novel), Chiaki Konaka (screenplay)

Stars:

Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Tomomi Miyashita, Kazuhiro Nakahara

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Shin'ya Tsukamoto	...	Masuoka
Tomomi Miyashita	...	F
Kazuhiro Nakahara	...	Arei Furoki
Miho Ninagawa	...	Aya Fukumoto
Shun Sugata	...	MIB
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Junko Amagi
Masayoshi Haneda
Ayumu Saitô

Storyline

In Tokyo, the freelance cameraman Takuyoshi Masuoka is obsessed investigating the fear sensation near death. When he photographs a man stabbing himself in the eye in the access to the subway, he seeks what the suicidal man might have seen to experiment the same sense of horror the man felt when he died. He finds a passage to the Tokyo underground where he meets a mysterious naked woman that does not speak, who he calls her F. He brings F to his place and he tries to feed her, until he discovers that she drinks blood. Masuika becomes a serial killer draining the blood of his victims to nurse F.

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Plot Keywords:

fear | schizophrenia | h.p. lovecraft | snuff film | vhs tape | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong bloody violence and some nudity

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

2005 (UK)

Also Known As:

Marebito

Box Office

Budget:

JPY 5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,852, 11 December 2005

Gross USA:

$13,893, 12 March 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

Adness K.K.,AtEntertainment K.K.,Culture Publishers (CP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 92 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the movie's key scenes takes place 'At the Mountains of Madness', an obvious nod to H.P. Lovecraft's novella of the same name.

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Quotes

Masuoka: They didn't see something that terrified them. They saw something because they were terrified.

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Connections

Featured in Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film (2009)

User Reviews

Weird Movie

In Tokyo, the freelancer cameraman Takuyoshi Masuoka (Shinya Tsukamoto) is obsessed investigating the fear sensation near death. When he shots with his camera a man stabbing himself in the eye in the access to the subway, he seeks what the suicidal might have seen to experiment the same sense of horror the man felt when he died. He finds a passage to the underground of Tokyo where he meets a mysterious naked woman that does not speak and he calls her F (Tomomi Miyashita). He brings F to his place and he has difficulties to feed her, until he discovers that she drinks blood. Masuika becomes a serial killer draining the blood of his victims to nurse F.

"Marebito" is a very weird low-budget movie that discloses the madness process of the lead character through his journey to hell in the underground of Tokyo. This original story is disturbing and unpleasant, using a morbid and creepy atmosphere, to unravel the twisted mind of a deranged man. However this strange movie is recommended for very specific audiences only. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Marebito: Seres Estranhos" ("Marebito: Weird Beings")