Product Details

• Actors: Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Shinji Takeda, Naomi Nishida, Kiyoshiro Imawano
• Directors: Takashi Miike
• Writers: Ai Kennedy, Kikumi Yamagishi
• Producers: Hirotsugu Yoshida
• Format: Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Eastern Star
• DVD Release Date: February 25, 2003
• Run Time: 113 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000083C5D
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,713 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Art House & International > Asian Cinema > Japan > Horror

• For more information about "Happiness of the Katakuris" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wacky!, April 26, 2003

By	Zack Davisson "All Good Things" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This movie had me absolutely cracking up. It is an absolutely oddball flick, full of non-sequitor plot points and bizarre musical moments. This was the first (and so far only) Takashi Miike film that I have seen, and it sure makes me want to see more. There is a distinct vision and a high level of creativity on display here.

"The Happiness of the Katakuris" is not a film for anyone with expectations of what a film should be like. It is a remake of the Korean film "Choyonghan kajok," and tells the story of a family who opens a bad-luck inn, where all the guests keep [expiring] through suicide of accident. A black comedy, it might be said to be in the tradition of "Arsenic and Old Lace."

Stylistically, the film follows no conventions, and slips into claymation at whim, musical at whim, and straight drama at whim. The cast is all delightful, and you find yourself rooting for each and everyone of them.

If you are in the mood for something strange and funny, you can't go wrong with "The Happiness of the Katakuris."

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A completely unique movie experience, February 23, 2003

By	Brent Figiel (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

There's an interview on the DVD for the Takashi Miike film "Audition" where he says that he has the benefit of not having to work under the microscope. Apparently no one really cares about cinema in Japan so he's free to do as he pleases and make whatever movies he likes without fear. It shows. There's a freedom in the way he directs. Each of his movies feels like it's a form of organized chaos and are shot with a complete abandon of conventions. "Audition" went far beyond any horror movie I've ever seen in terms of not only well-placed gore but psychological horror. "City Of Lost Souls" took the concept of the adrenaline-fueled action movie to it's nihilistic, stylish limits. "Happiness Of The Kataruris," on the other hand, is a feel good black comedy... if that makes any sense. A heart-warming story about a family that sticks together despite themselves, always trying to do their best... despite bad luck, dead bodies, con men, homicidal maniacs, and forces of nature.

It's completely absurdist. It's got slapstick comedy, gross out humor, black comedy, and horror along with uplifting song and dance routines. (There's even a karaoke number!) The special effects are done (probably for budgetary reasons) in claymation. Amazingly, Miike juggles all of the balls fairly seamlessly. Despite the numerous deaths over the course of the movie, I don't think it's possible to finish the movie and not feel good about yourself. The ironic hipster types will feel like it's a musical for people who hate musicals and everyone else will probably just dig it because it's so freakin' funny.

The musical numbers were intentionally performed with very little time for the actors to prepare, which makes it all the more believable. The first musical scene between the naive, love-starved daughter and the "secret agent" con man had me laughing so hard my sides hurt. The cast is so self-conscious about the dancing that it makes the scenes even funnier. There's so much going on that you're going to have to watch it several times to get it all, but that will hardly feel like a chore. The cast is very likable (you can't help but root for any family with luck this horrible) and the film carries a strong message about loyalty and the benefits of hard work.

If you like Troma movies like "Cannibal: The Musical," this film is right up your alley. Between an awesome movie and a number of great extras on the DVD, there's no reason for any fan of left-of-center cinema to pass it by. I dare you not to feel good about yourself when you finish it.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BIZZARE AND HILARIOUS, July 14, 2003

By	Shashank Tripathi (Gadabout) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A Japanese family starts a guest-house on the top of a hill but it seems to be jinxed -- all the guests who visit them have an unfortunate habit of dying. Dead bodies not being the best thing for business, the family has to come up with a creative way to hide the corposes. They choose to do this while singing along the mountains.

The predicament is funny itself. But the story telling is uniquely impressive as it effortlessly switches between melancholy romance, adventure, horror, mystery, singing, dancing, flying, some interesting claymation with weird creatures, crooks impersonating members of the british royal family, and even a volcano. It's like watching several different threads of the movie simultaneously, but somehow Miike holds it all together.

As typical of Japanese cinema, there's even a very positive moral to the story, making this bewildering mess quite a bit of fun to watch for the entire family. Get your hands on this hilarious film if you can.