Description
Title: Love & Pop (1998)
Alternate Title: ラブ&ポップ (Rabu & Poppu)
Genre: Drama
Plot Synopsis: Set in Tokyo, “Love & Pop” follows Hiromi Yoshii, a high school student who, along with her friends, engages in “enjo kōsai” or compensated dating—where older men pay young girls for companionship. When Hiromi becomes enamored with an expensive ring, she delves deeper into this world to earn the money needed to purchase it. The film explores themes of adolescence, materialism, and the moral ambiguities faced by youth in modern society.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Hideaki Anno
- Writers: Hideaki Anno, Akio Satsukawa
- Based on the Novel by: Ryū Murakami
- Cast:
- Asumi Miwa as Hiromi Yoshii
- Kirari as Chisa Noda
- Hirono Kudō as Nao Yokoi
- Yukie Nakama as Chieko Takamori
- Tadanobu Asano as Captain EO
IMDb Link:
Love & Pop (1998)
YouTube Trailer:
Love & Pop Trailer
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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Valeofruin – ★★★★★ “A compelling critique of Japan in the late ’90s. Anno’s experimental style captures the essence of a society in transition.”
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NimmUwU – ★★★★☆ “Anno’s direction offers a unique perspective with creative camera angles, making the film both visually and thematically engaging.”
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Omar – ★★★★½ “A unique and compelling cinematic journey that critiques the overtly sexual subculture in modern Japan.”
Meta Description: “Love & Pop” (1998), directed by Hideaki Anno, is a Japanese drama exploring the life of Hiromi, a high school girl who engages in compensated dating to afford a coveted ring. The film delves into themes of adolescence, materialism, and societal pressures in modern Japan.
Title: The Murder Clinic (1966) (English subtitled)
Alternate Title: La lama nel corpo
Genre: Horror, Crime
Plot Synopsis:
Set in 1870s England, Dr. Robert Vance oversees a secluded mental hospital where patients and staff begin falling victim to a hooded killer wielding a straight razor. As the murders escalate, secrets within the clinic unravel, revealing hidden pasts and sinister motives. The film blends gothic horror with early giallo elements, exploring themes of madness, obsession, and the macabre.
Cast and Crew:
- Directors: Elio Scardamaglia, Lionello De Felice
- Writers: Ernesto Gastaldi, Luciano Martino, Albert G. Miller
- Cast:
- William Berger as Dr. Robert Vance
- Françoise Prévost as Gisèle de Brantome
- Mary Young as Lizabeth Vance
- Barbara Wilson as Mary Stuart
- Philippe Hersent as Marc de Brantome
IMDb Link:
The Murder Clinic (1966)
YouTube Trailer:
The Murder Clinic Trailer
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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Slig001 – ★★★½
“An early proto-Giallo that takes obvious influence from Blood and Black Lace, Gothic horror and Krimi films. The film is set in England in 1870 and really goes in hard with the Gothic atmosphere.” -
Lexzilla – ★★★☆☆
“Sits somewhere between a gothic and a giallo with a bit of Jane Eyre thrown in for good measure. For the gothic fans, it has a period setting, a grand old residence, women running around in nightgowns.” -
John Charles – ★★★☆☆
“Mario Bava’s influence hangs heavy over this Italian/French co-production, which features some lighting schemes and gothic atmosphere that usually compare favorably to Bava’s work.”
Meta Description:
“The Murder Clinic” (1966) is a gothic horror-crime film directed by Elio Scardamaglia and Lionello De Felice. Set in 1870s England, the story follows Dr. Robert Vance, who manages a secluded mental hospital plagued by a series of murders committed by a hooded assailant. The film combines elements of gothic horror and early giallo, delving into themes of madness and hidden secrets.
