Retribution (2006)

An experienced police detective has to investigate the murder of an unknown woman dressed in a scarlet dress.

Director:

Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Writer:

Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Stars:

Kôji Yakusho, Manami Konishi, Tsuyoshi Ihara

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kôji Yakusho	...	Noboru Yoshioka
Manami Konishi	...	Harue Nimura
Tsuyoshi Ihara	...	Tôru Miyaji
Hiroyuki Hirayama	...	Wakai Keiji Sakurai
Ikuji Nakamura	...	Shôichi Sakuma
Ryô Kase	...	Sagyôsen no Sen'in
Kaoru Okunuki	...	Miyuki Yabe
Hironobu Nomura	...	Seiji Onoda
Jin Muraki	...	Kenshikan Furuya
Hajime Inoue	...	Keiji
Naoko Miyake	...	Kangofu
Yôko Chôsokabe	...	Kangofu
Takahiro Satô	...	Sakuma no Musuko Yûsuke
Kenkichi Watanabe	...	Shiryôgakari
Kaoru Mizuki	...	Shibata Reiko no Hahaoya

Storyline

A detective investigates a series of murders. A possible serial killer might be on a rampage, since they all are in the same vicinity and by the same method, but as the evidence points toward the detective as the prime suspect, a ghost in red follows him, and he begins to question his identity. His realization of what seems to have really happened results in something much more sinister and larger in scope, and it leaves his psyche scarred.

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Plot Keywords:

looking at oneself in a mirror | murder | ghost | serial killer | red | 

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violent content

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by Kaidan (2007)

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Soundtracks

Kaze ni naru
Written by Ataru Nakamura
Performed by Ataru Nakamura
Courtesy of Avex Trax

User Reviews

Disappointing

This is a rather forgettable horror film, which is a letdown coming from Kiyoshi Kurosawa. I see people on the messageboard for this film claiming that disliking it shows a lack of sophistication, or a failure to appreciate Japanese cinema. I'm a fan of the Asian horror wave of the past decade or so. I had no trouble following movies like Suicide Club, The Eye, and A Tale of Two Sisters. And I love several of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's other works: Cure, Charisma, Korei (Seance) and Kairo (Pulse.) I didn't like Retribution. It has long tension-building takes and quirky observed moments like Kurosawa's better works; he's an assured director who excels at atmosphere. But the plot of this film may actually be TOO clear. Cure, Charisma and Pulse are evocative films that leave central questions unanswered, haunting viewers.

In Retribution, everything is revealed, and the supernatural comes to seem ordinary, a little boring and even a little silly. Techniques and images repeat from Kurosawa's better films. Retribution has its moments, but there's nothing here that Kurosawa hasn't already done better elsewhere.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

24 February 2007 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Retribution

Filming Locations:

Ariake Station, Koto, Tokyo, Japan

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$394,568

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), Entertainment Farm (EF), Avex Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1