Tokyo detective Takabe (Yakusho) investigate a series of murders in which the victims are found with a large X carved into their chests. Their killers are apprehended with no motive for their crimes. The stereotypically short-tempered detective finds a link between psychiatry student, Mamiya (Masato Hagiwara), and one of the killers and concludes that Mamiya, who did extensive study on hypnotism, has been planting the idea of the killings in his subjects' minds. The broody catatonic Mimaya comes off as a pretentious stoned teenager and he frustrated me throughout. He is able to take control over people simply by holding a cigarette lighter in front of them. The fact that he can hypnotise people is meant to say a lot about free will. I had heard of hypnotism before I saw this movie…
With its visual style and unbearably slow pace it wants to be an existential art house flick but the dialogue lacks intelligence and the characters lack development. The almost non-existent ambient soundtrack doesn't help. After a static two hours were left with an unsatisfying ending.
0.5/5
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