Product Details

• Actors: Ryûhei Matsuda, Hitomi, Masanobu Andô, Ren Ohsugi, Yoshio Harada
• Directors: Shin'ya Tsukamoto
• Writers: Shin'ya Tsukamoto
• Producers: Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Shin-Ichi Kawahara, Takuji Ushiyama, Yumiko Takebe
• Format: Color, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Weinstein Company
• DVD Release Date: February 19, 2008
• Run Time: 106 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00104AYG0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,986 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Nightmare Detective (Unrated Version)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Terrifying horror film about a man who gets into people’s dreams and causes them to kill themselves in real life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 3 ½ Stars: Not Quite Tsukamoto's Best work, But Still IMMENSELY Gritty and Creepy with its very Atmospheric Feel..., February 23, 2008

By 

Woopak "The THRILL" (Where Dark Asian Knights Dwell) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nightmare Detective (Unrated Version) (DVD)

NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE (a.k.a. Akumu Tantei, 2006) is the handiwork of renowned Japanese director/actor Shinya Tsukamoto who is also responsible for acclaimed hits such as TETSUO 1 & 2 and A Snake of June. I like this director's style, this film may have the largest budget bestowed him, but this director stands by his art, never for a moment does he give in to the pressure of making a studio-approved/influenced film. Tsukamoto just has a bigger budget to give mainstream viewers another shot of the bizarre and macabre. Would you believe that the director of this film also plays the main antagonist? Well, he does, and rightfully so. (Tsukamoto also played the lead in "Marebito", which I will review later)

A beautiful and competent detective named Keiko Kirishima (J-pop star Reiko Hitomi) is summoned to investigate supposedly two separate suicide cases. The supposed "suicides" have a common denominator; the victims dialed the same number on their cell phones just minutes before their demise. When one of the victim's wife makes a statement that she saw her husband cutting himself to pieces while he is asleep, it starts to feel more like a "serial" murder. Keiko and her partner, Wakamiya (Masanobu Ando) decides to enlist the aid of Kagenuma (Ryuhei Matsuda, Izo), a so-called psychic who can enter the dreams of another individual. The mysterious individual on the receiving end of the cell phone calls; "O" be the man behind the bloody incidents? Somehow, "O" holds the same mysterious power that Kagenuma wields.

At first glance, "Nightmare Detective" may feel like a rethread of Miike's "One Missed Call" mixed in with the horror elements of "Dreamscape" and "A Nightmare at Elm Street". However, the film sidesteps those boundaries and while its premise may hold similarities to other films, it plays like the comic book "Hellblazer" with a mixture of dark fantasy and mythology as the factors behind multi-dimensional connections. Water is used to symbolize one's immersion into "deep sleep" or a descent into the abyss and as a conduit to the dream world. "Constantine", anyone? (well, without the action and reliance to visual effects) I was rather a little disappointed that the usual J-horror gimmicks as the film does use a technological device as a link between the victims and the antagonist at first, but thankfully, the claustrophobic and atmospheric feel of the proceedings made me overlook the usual J-horror trappings.

Those who are familiar with Tsukamoto's work such as "Tetsuo" and "A Snake of June"; know that his work often relies on the creative visual manipulations of this director. There is a lot of bleakness in the proceedings, the "grainy" transfer of the film is done on purpose at times in order to allow the viewer to differentiate reality from the dream world. (Although, there are a few times it wasn't used to confuse the viewer). There are also a lot of themes and Christian motifs that involve birth and baptism, rebirth and redemption, damnation to hell and eternal suffering. While these complicated thematic style may be its strength, it may also frustrate those looking for the usual scary thrills. There are quite a lot of intense and disturbing images but somehow I did feel like the surface has only been scratched and further development of its plot still have to be finalized, it feels like a set-up for a bigger film. Well, I've read that "Nightmare Detective 2" is in production, so maybe, as with "Tetsuo 2: Body Hammer", the sequel will hold more answers and close this series more effectively.

Aside from the film's thematic affair that aroused my curiosity, the performances actually do save the film. I rather thought for a first-time performance, very sexy J-pop starlet REIKO HITOMI did a fairly good job. She plays her character with a bit of an edgy, unsettling feel. It was such a grand effort not to be taken by her sheer good looks. Ryuhei Matsuda is an actor that usually has the same style of acting, but he does give an unbalanced depth to his character. I was very impressed with Shinya Tsukamoto's performance. Boy, this director can indeed act with a very creepy charisma. As the main antagonist, Shinya steals the show; his movement and dynamic presence fits his character with an unnervingly, insane portrayal.

Overall, "Nightmare Detective" is a film with modest intentions and I really didn't find that many faults about it. Viewers looking for a fast-paced horror thriller may find their interest beginning to wane after the dream world begins to take center stage. The final encounter has that very surreal feeling that doesn't really reach a finality of closure that may prove to contain the potential to become multiple climaxes. Thankfully, the effort in adding dimensions to its back-story and character depth does succeed that I was rooting for the protagonists all the way. I'm very intrigued to see what this awesome actor/director has next up his sleeve. I'm sold to see "Nightmare Detective 2".

Recommended! For fans of Japanese fantasy/horror films. [3 ½ stars]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Shinya's Work Is Always "Must-See!", September 30, 2010

By 

Brian Harris "WildsideCinema" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nightmare Detective (Unrated Version) (DVD)

Despite sharing similar concepts with films like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Dreamscape, Tsukamoto's Nightmare Detective is definitely in a class all its own. He's created, once again, something beautiful to behold and an effective atmosphere of tension; just enough to dazzle as well as deliver on the chills. As the film progresses lines begin to blur and soon the cold, colorless nightmare realm in which the monstrous "0" stalks his prey becomes indistinguishable from reality. Are the characters awake, asleep or caught somewhere in-between?

No question, I'm a big fan of Tsukamoto's work, his stuff always has that David Lynch/David Cronenberg vibe; surrealism meets malformation. Nightmare Detective has an interesting premise, brutal murder and a villain (played by Tsukamoto) worth rooting for but the characters we were meant to identify with could have used a bit more warmth. If you're accustomed to Shinya Tsukamoto's clinical style of filmmaking, this'll score big points with you.

J-Horror fans looking to finally get their hands on something original after being subjected to the horrors of U.S. remakes and ultra low budget shot-on-video J-Horror for the last few years should definitely check Tsukamoto's Nightmare Detective out. It's a classy endeavor that resists cliché and, just as Vital before it, resists categorization. I highly recommend this fantastic supernatural thriller and I eagerly await the stateside release of the sequel.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good "THINKING MAN'S" Japanese horror film!!!, July 5, 2008

By 

Noble Sir "Craftsman" (Korea) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nightmare Detective (Unrated Version) (DVD)

This film, by Director Tsukamoto, of the "Iron Man" series is full of wonderful horror action and subtle references to the occult world. It is beautifully acted out by Ryuhei Matsuda as the "Nightmare Detective" and the camera shots of Japan in conjunction with the dream scape sequences are a pleasure to see. Another pleasure is to see J-Pop Star, Reiko Hitomi, in her first movie! I am in love with this woman. She is lovely to look at and comes with a certain freshness to her acting. You can tell she is sincere and I like her maturity on screen. At first, I was wondering if Tsukamoto could make a movie of this natue without it becoming a movie for teenagers or a comedy. I am very pleased to say he not only pulled it off, but he also made it a movie for adults with themes that require some thought, such as: Love, Hate, Depression, Murder, Loneliness, the nature of Reality versus Dreams, Psychic Powers, Lust, and Suicide. This is dark Japanese horror film making at it's best. Finally, as a bonus, the DVD has a "Making of Nightmare Detective" in the special features portion in which Director Tsukamoto explains his creative process to you behind the scenes of the movie. And you get to see more of lovely Hitomi as well!!!! Nightmare Detective is a highly recommended Japanese Horror movie and I would not be suprized if an American remake hits the market in the near future. Enough said.-smile-