Cinema Dream Network Classics: Volume Five | Region-Free (Blu-Ray)

Title: Original Sin (1992)

Alternate Title: Shinde mo ii

Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller

Plot Synopsis:
Makoto Hirano, a young drifter, arrives in a suburban town and becomes infatuated with Nami Tsuchiya, the wife of a local real estate agent. After securing a job at her husband’s agency, Makoto and Nami begin an illicit affair. As their passion grows, they consider murdering Nami’s husband, Hideki Tsuchiya, leading to a series of tragic consequences.

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Cast and Crew:

• Director: Takashi Ishii
• Writer:
  • Takashi Ishii (screenplay)
  • Bo Nishimura (novel)
• Cast:
  • Shinobu Otake as Nami Tsuchiya
  • Masatoshi Nagase as Makoto Hirano
  • Hideo Murota as Hideki Tsuchiya
  • Naoto Takenaka
  • Ryo Iwamatsu

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YouTube Trailer:
Original Sin | Trailer

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IMDb Link:
Original Sin (1992)

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Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. moloko – ★★★★☆
   “Takashi Ishii paints a dark and alluring tale of lust and betrayal. The performances are fantastic, especially Shinobu Otake, who carries so much emotional weight.”
2. filmclub – ★★★☆☆
   “Moody, atmospheric, and brooding—just what you’d expect from Ishii. The pacing may be slow for some, but it builds tension beautifully.”

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Meta Description:
Original Sin (1992), also known as Shinde mo ii, is a Japanese drama-thriller directed by Takashi Ishii. The film follows a young drifter and a real estate agent’s wife as their passionate affair spirals into betrayal and violence. Starring Shinobu Otake and Masatoshi Nagase, it delivers a gripping story of obsession and tragedy.

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Title: Concrete (2004)

Alternate Title: Konkurîto

Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror

Plot Synopsis:
Based on the harrowing true events of the 1988 murder of Junko Furuta, this film portrays the abduction, prolonged torture, and eventual murder of a high school girl by four youths. The narrative delves into the psychological and societal factors that led to this heinous crime, offering a grim reflection on human depravity.

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Cast and Crew:

• Director: Hiromu Nakamura
• Writers:
  • Jôji Atsumi (novel)
  • Hiroshi Kanno (screenplay)
• Cast:
  • Katsuya Kobayashi as Hiroaki Ozaki
  • Miki Komori as Misaki
  • Masanori Machida as Daimon
  • Kensuke Mano as Takao Matsuyama
  • Mika Mifune as Kayoko

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YouTube Trailer:
Concrete | Trailer

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IMDb Link:
Concrete (2004)

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Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. guisreis – ★☆☆☆☆
   “When you first hear about a Japanese movie that details the real-life torture, rape, and murder of a schoolgirl who was killed just 15 years before it was made, one word that springs to mind is ‘problematic’. The film is a harrowing depiction of human cruelty, but its existence so soon after the actual events raises ethical questions.”
2. Kelly_Meador – ★★★★★
   “I’m unsure why this got such a low rating because it isn’t a bad movie. This movie is disturbing, hard to watch, and sad but do I regret watching it? No. I feel like they are trying to show how bad Junko was treated and they do a good job at this. The men and the families who think their sons did nothing wrong are sick. I don’t get easily disturbed by movies but this one left me disturbed and sad for the poor girl that had to endure this. The acting is well in my opinion the gore isn’t cheap and they tell the story very well. Give this a watch if you are interested in the story of Junko or just want to be sad or disturbed.”
3. DungeonSkramz – ★★★★☆
   “A harrowing portrayal of one of Japan’s most infamous crimes. The film doesn’t shy away from the brutality inflicted upon Junko Furuta, making it a difficult but important watch. The performances are hauntingly real, and the direction captures the hopelessness of the victim’s plight. Not for the faint-hearted, but a stark reminder of the depths of human cruelty.”

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Meta Description:
“Concrete” (2004), directed by Hiromu Nakamura, is a Japanese crime drama based on the true story of Junko Furuta’s 1988 murder, exploring the psychological and societal factors behind the heinous crime.

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Title: Hiruko the Goblin (1991)

Alternate Title: Yokai Hanta Hiruko

Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Comedy

Plot Synopsis:
A school is constructed over one of the Gates of Hell, where hordes of demons await their release. Hiruko, a goblin, is sent to Earth on a reconnaissance mission, beheading students to assemble their heads onto spider-like demon bodies. Archaeology professor Reijirou Hieda and student Masao Yabe investigate the gruesome deaths.

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Cast and Crew:

• Director: Shinya Tsukamoto
• Writer: Shinya Tsukamoto
• Cast:
  • Kenji Sawada as Reijirou Hieda
  • Masaki Kudou as Masao Yabe
  • Naoto Takenaka as Takashi Yabe
  • Megumi Ueno as Reiko Tsukishima
  • Hideo Murota as Watanabe

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YouTube Trailer:
HIRUKO THE GOBLIN | Official Trailer

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IMDb Link:
Hiruko the Goblin (1991)

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Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Rafael “Parker!!” Jovine – ★★★★☆
   “A better Evil Dead Trap sequel than the actual Evil Dead Trap sequel, at least it delivers on the bonkers horror stuff much, much better. As you would expect from a Shinya Tsukamoto movie, you get a dose of awesome makeup and prosthetic work with some crazy fun and disturbing creatures, especially in the third act when literally all hell breaks loose. The Japanese director especially succeeds at what I believe Andy Muschietti failed on It: Chapter 2, and that’s making an effective, terrifying, and cool-looking spider human head monster. The film is also quite experimental, but not so much that makes it difficult for most people to enjoy, though you can…”
2. Justin LaLiberty – ★★★★☆
   “A true shame that Tsukamoto was never hired to helm a major video game adaptation as this captures the essence of gaming more than any film about (or an adaptation of) video games has thus far; it also features a lot of gnarly decapitations, The Thing-esque spider heads, and homemade gadgets that feel plucked from a twelve-year-old’s imagination — perhaps Tsukamoto’s most unsung gem.”
3. Michelle – ★★★★☆
   “Hiruko the Goblin (1991) was director Shinya Tsukamoto’s second full-length feature film and his first studio project after his independently made cult hit Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989). It is based on Yokai Hunter, a popular horror manga at the time. It is not a direct adaptation as it combines elements from two different stories and has additional creative elements that Tsukamoto added to…”

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Meta Description:
“Hiruko the Goblin” (1991), directed by Shinya Tsukamoto, is a Japanese horror-fantasy film where an archaeology professor and a student uncover deadly supernatural events at a school built over a Gate of Hell.

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