One of the better and more interesting films I’ve seen all year is Sion Sono’s Cold Fish which, thanks to Bloody Disgusting Selects, is being released on DVD, Video on Demand , iTunes and other channels today. It’s a film that I had my dad watch, a man who doesn’t like reading subtitles, and by the end of the film he walked out of the room with a big smiling praising this crazy piece of Japanese cinema. If that’s not a testament to the quality of this flick then I don’t know what else I can do to convince you to watch this film.
Since I reviewed this film only 22 days ago, due to its theatrical release, I thought I would repost my review and just add a little blurb about the special features within the review itself.
Ever since I heard about its debut at the Venice Film Festival, I’ve been dying to watch the critically acclaimed Cold Fish and am really glad that I finally got the opportunity to do so. For a movie that’s 144 minutes, I was surprised by how much more I wanted and how much longer I could have sat in my seat for. I wonder if there is a director’s cut because I could have sat for at least another 45 minutes without feeling even the slightest fatigue. I guess what I am trying to say is that, yes, it’s a captivating film.
Cold Fish tells the semi-true story of Shamoto (Mitsuru Fukikoshi), a tropical fish store owner with a dysfunctional family. One night, after his daughter Mitsuko (Hikari Kajiwara) is caught shoplifting, a generous man named Murata (Denden) helps get Mitsuko off the hook and, in exchange, asks Shamoto if she can work at his fish store, Amazon Gold. As Mitsuko is assimilated into the campus like environment of Amazon Gold, mild-mannered Shamoto begins to realize that Murata and his wife are not what they appear to be. Not only does Shamoto’s marriage continue its path down the toilet, but Murata and his wife reel him into their bloody games without having a chance to back out. Cold Fish turns into a bloody, dark and psychotic drama about what happens when you push an ordinary man well beyond the brink of insanity.
Sion Sonos’s (Love Exposure) latest cinematic endeavor is a taut and dark dramatic thriller that grabs you by the neck until the final second of the finale and then makes sure to take you down with it. It’s a film that isn’t for the light of heart or for those with very weak stomachs. It focuses more on the story than anything but it still has some extremely graphic and bloody visuals that are bound to make anyone squirm in their seats.
What makes Cold Fish such a fascinating film is that it focuses so much on its characters, enabling you to clearly understand their flaws and how they may end up haunting them in the long run of the film. Shamoto is weak and soft-spoken, his wife is beautiful and focused, his daughter is a selfish bitch (for lack of a better word), Murata is a boisterous businessman, and his wife is sex addict with control issues. With their flaws clearly on display, it helps you, the audience member, understand where the film is going but it will never tell you how or when it will get there because, let’s be honest, we all know what happens when a man is pushed too far out of his comfort zone.
I have to give a hand to the actors and actresses in this film. I thought they did an outstanding job portraying these flawed characters, making sure to heighten the flaws that were specific to them. Not only did it help make the story and direction very clear, but it also made it difficult to pick sides. In the end you really only have one person to feel for but up until then, I think there were a few characters your sympathy might have targeted.
What also impressed me about this film is that it manages to shock you, which is expected from Sion Sono, even though it isn’t going for shock value on purpose. There are some bloody scenes that are very detailed and will make your jaw drop, but it’s only because Sono’s trying to make a point as to how sick and careful the people are in this film. It isn’t a splatter drama like the insanely disturbing Suicide Club but it does almost reach that level of bloodiness when the end comes rolling around.
Lastly, the pacing of the film really sets the mood and helped build up the suspense and anticipation for the chaotic finale. OBVIOUS SPOILER Throughout the film you can slowly see Shamoto’s frustration begin to build, although he doesn’t necessarily express it in words you can read his face and see that it’s only a matter of time before he snaps END SPOILER. The entire film is based on this mounting frustration, so as Shamoto’s temperature slowly and steadily begins to rise, we know something bad might happen but, what we don’t know, is 
that the film will literally turn itself on its head, smashing it into the ground with such force that all you can do when the credits roll is applaud in satisfaction.
As for the special features there isn’t much to talk about. The only thing on the disc besides the feature is an eight minute interview with Sion Sono and, while listening to him speak is a treat in and of itself, not much is actually learned from the dialogue. One key takeaway though was the fact that he stated he won’t be making any more movies in Japan which I thought was interesting. I know it is complete BS since he already has two Japanese films in the works but I’m curious if he will actually decide to go travel and make his films elsewhere. Other than that you get to hear about how he became a filmmaker and also learn about his relationship to Takeshi Miike, a man who people constantly compare him to.
I personally don’t have anything really negative to say about the film. I thought it was executed really well thanks to the terrific acting and amazing script and direction. Sion Sono knew exactly what he wanted and strove for perfection, which is the beauty of both directing and, in this case, co-writing your own films. If you ever want to see a movie that carefully builds itself up only to destroy everything you’ve come to know in the finale, then please do yourself a favor and go rent or buy Cold Fish, it’ll blow you away! You can pick it up at Amazon here.
Rating: A bloody, persistent, and well crafted drama that’ll throw your world upside down (8/10)
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