Audition

Giving Audition a 10 out of 10 feels a little strange, even now. It’s probably the most conflicted perfect score I’ve ever given. But after sitting with it, I really do think it deserves it. At first, the film doesn’t even feel like a horror movie. It’s slow, almost gentle in the way it sets everything up. But once you pass that halfway point, it completely shifts, and that’s when the real eeriness kicks in. It’s the kind of discomfort that crawls under your skin and stays there. It’s unsettling in a way that’s hard to shake, and honestly, that’s what makes it so powerful. The performances are incredible across the board. Every character feels necessary, and nothing feels wasted. Asami, in particular, is terrifying, not in an obvious way, but in how unpredictable she is. I genuinely couldn’t tell what she was going to do next, and that tension had me on edge the entire time. I also really appreciated the direction, especially toward the end. There’s a moment where things feel slightly disorienting, but it all comes together in a way that feels earned. The pacing might not work for everyone, especially early on, but I think it perfectly serves the story and makes the payoff hit even harder. That final dreamlike sequence is just haunting, shot in such a surreal, almost unreal way. The way everything and everyone comes together in that moment feels incredibly bold, and I honestly can’t imagine it being done any better. Takashi Miike really created something special here.