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Seance

Kôji Yakusho (Actor), Jun Fubuki (Actor), Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Director, Writer) Rated:

Unrated

Format: DVD

22 ratings

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May 17, 2005

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Editorial Reviews

Based on Mark McShanes novel, Séance on a Wet Afternoon (Kôrei), Kiyoshi Kurosawas international award-winning thriller stars Kôji Yakusho (Shall We Dance) as Kôji Sato, a sound effects engineer, and Jun Fubuki (Pulse) as his psychic wife. When a missing young girl escapes her kidnappers and hides in Kôjis equipment case while he is recording sounds in the woods, the stage is set for a scheme to promote her psychic abilities. But the couples hoax goes terrifyingly awry in this unsettling and atmospheric shocker from one of Japans new masters of horror.

Product details

Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
MPAA rating : s_medNotRated Unrated (Not Rated)
Product Dimensions : 7.75 x 5.75 x 0.53 inches; 3.84 Ounces
Director : Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Media Format : Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, NTSC
Run time : 1 hour and 58 minutes
Release date : May 17, 2005
Actors : Kôji Yakusho, Jun Fubuki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Hikari Ishida, Kitarô
Subtitles: : English
Producers : Atsuyuki Shimoda, Takehiko Tanaka, Yasuyuki Uemura
Language : Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), Unqualified (DTS ES 6.1)
Studio : Homevision
ASIN : B0007XT7PY
Writers : Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Mark McShane, Tetsuya Onishi
Number of discs : 1

Best Sellers Rank: #209,659 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #6,806 in Foreign Films (Movies & TV)
- #9,946 in Horror (Movies & TV)
- #17,954 in Mystery & Thrillers (Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews:
22 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		36%
4 star		31%
3 star		13%
2 star		10%
1 star		11%

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johnny

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2016

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it was ok

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orvuus

Unsettling Kiyoshi Kurosawa gem

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2011

Kiyoshi Kurosawa loves to shift the ground from beneath the viewer's feet. When you think you are watching a horror movie, it turns into a comedy. When you think you are watching a thriller, it turns into a horror movie, as it does here. Nominally a remake of "Seance on a wet afternoon," which is also a great movie, this is in some ways classic Japanese tragedy as only Kurosawa can interpret it. I would not use the word "enjoy" in watching this movie, but rather the phrase, "it was quite an experience." You must love Japanese and other Asian movies to appreciate it -- to Westerners it may be contrary to all logic why these characters take such ill-advised steps, but a sort of Fate that propels people to doom often populates Japanese cinema. Also we in the West are used to spirits that are forgiving or even humorous, but you would be hard-pressed to find this happening in Japanese or Korean films. Spirits are usually relentless in seeking revenge or can even be responsible for mass doom, as in The Ring and Ju-on films. If you like this you may also like Retribution, Pulse, Charima, and Cure. As a side note, be sure to see Kiyoshi Kurosawa's take on Val Lewton in the documentary "Val Lewton: Man in the shadows." You can get a feel for both his appreciation of horror cinema as well as a feeling that he has a good sense of humor. Of note he has been steadily moving away from horror (movies like Doppelganger seem to disavow the genre) which has brought him to his latest film Tokoyo Sonata which is not at all horror (or is it?). However as recently as 2006 his Retribution (Sakebi) certainly fills the bill for a shot of old time Kiyoshi hair-raising entertainment. I highly recommend this film.

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Jason

A movie with a ghost, yet not about the ghost.

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2009

Séance is a film that is slow and surreal in its best moment. The story is simple; a wife wants to be famous as a medium to be an equal contributor to the family income. The husband agrees because he loves his wife and wants her to be happy. Everything else happens because of chance and in some cases stupidity. These moments of blatant neglect fill this film with terror as I sat watching thinking to myself "what? Really you're going to do that. Really?"

What makes this film so powerful isn't how evil the main characters are or smart or daring, it's their simplicity. They are a normal couple in Japan living out their marriage as any other couple. They don't have any reason to get involved in the kidnapping of the girl and if fate didn't play them into the fold of the kidnapping they'd never have the choices that had to make. But, fate did give them a girl and an opportunity to exploit the situation. And what is scary to me, is the reasoning the characters take is understandable. Yes, not the choice I'd like to think I'd make but, a choice that allows the character to processed with the rest of the film. It's their inabilities to see the situation from any other point then their own selfish reasoning that lets this film become a horror movie.

This film has ghost in it, a good few, but none are as scary as what the humans do. The ghost play a much simpler role, they are the reminder of peoples past. The things they've done to others. In the end the ghost are not the bad guys that go boo. But, the choices the people make to save themselves is what is left with you when the credits roll.

Kiyoshi Kurosawa the director of this film knows his stuff. Filling the movie with moments of surrealism that simply don't make any since. Not in the strictest way, but the feeling from the scene are so filled with dread from this confusion that the scene complete the films atmosphere. Not subtracting from it. As with most film from Asia, it is common to be asked simple to allow things to happen and not try to rationalize the action into logical explanation. With this in mind Séance is a truly scary film. If you're looking for a slow Japanese scary movie this is a winner without any doubt. A truly powerful horror movie.

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Ernest Jagger

"Do You Believe There Is A Hell?"

Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2007

"Seance," by director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, is a slow and heavily nuanced thriller that is not for everyone. Every film I view of this great director makes me anticipate his next film even more. He is not only a talented director, but he has a style all his own. From his outstanding thriller "Cure," to his enigmatic film "Charisma," Kurosawa gives the viewer another film worthy enough to add to ones cinema collection. And although this film is not in the same league as "Cure" this one is no slouch by any stretch of the imagination. "Seance" stars Kurosawa regular Koji Yakusho as a sound technician named Katsuhiko Sato. The film is a little slow paced, and may seem to lack cohesion in some places, but Kurosawa is noted for his showing not telling. He allows the viewer to figure out his narratives, and many times his films are very ambiguous But if you pay close attention to the small details, you will be pleasantly surprised. Or in some cases, a bit disturbed and shaken. His films are not the typical gore fest like American films. They are intelligent.

As the films narrative begins, what you have is a drama which will eventually turn into a supernatural thriller. Sato's wife, Junko Sato (Jun Fubuki) is a spiritual medium who performs Seance's. In addition to this, she is also working with a graduate student named Hayakawa (Tsuyoshi Kusangi) who is attempting to explore the possibility of mediums assisting psychologists. Hayakawa has written a thesis on the use of mediums, and as a psychologist, he wants to explore other avenues to psychological study. This is turned down by the department head however, as being too far off the wall in regular research. Still Hayakawa firmly believes in Junko's abilities as a medium. Moreover, there are some subtle to not so subtle areas in the film which point out Junko's spiritual abilities as a medium.

Junko's husband Katsuhiko (Koji Yakusho) is a sound engineer. When one of his co-workers needs to have the sound of trees blowing in the wind, Katsuhiko takes his recording equipment near Mt. Fuji, to get some good sound effects. Also, with him is a large sound case he happens to leave open when he is recording the sound of the trees, and it is here that the film will veer the viewer into an ominous chapter in Katsuhiko's life: For there is another narrative going on at the same time dealing with a recently kidnapped girl. Something occurs in the woods which will later have a profound impact on Katsuhiko and his wife. I really liked the way that Kurosawa gives the viewer the scenery of the surrounding areas where his films take place. There is an aesthetic beauty that tends to lend itself to the film. Not only with the outdoor scenes, but indoors as well. Especially the old buildings he uses in his films.

When an opportunity occurs, which may lend credence to the wifes psychic abilities, proving her powers to others, both of them devise a plan they believe will make her famous. However, there is much tragedy that lies in store for this couple, and especially for Katsuhiko. When tragedy does occur concerning this husband and wife, we see them both trying to deceive the police in order to give credence to the wifes claims of spiritual prowess.

This film has all the elements I like in a horror or psychological thriller. The suggestion of terror, and the nuance of horror. Moreover, the acting by everyone is first-rate. Katsuhiko and Junko are terrific in their respective roles. In fact, it is the acting performances that both these actors give which make this such a great and believable film. We see the hell that Katsuhiko is now going through due to his interaction with a spirit. Or is it a spirit? Is this his conscience weighing on him as he struggles to come to terms with a tragedy? Not only that, but you can sense his guilt at has recently transpired in his life. There are some great scenes and dialogs in the film when Katsuhiko asks a Shinto priest to cleanse the house of unclean spirits. The priest, played by Sho Aikawa [a regular of Takashi Miike's films], has some very profound interactions with Katsuhiko. The dialogs between the two inside the house, and outside was terrific. And although I really did not pay much attention to this the first time I viewed the film, it really packs a powerful punch when one later contemplates on this interaction. Especially when Katsuhiko asks the Shinto priest if he believes there is a hell. I recommend this film highly. Especially those tired of stale American horror films and thrillers. [Stars: 4.5]

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Top reviews from other countries

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Rafael

Bien

Reviewed in Spain on September 27, 2018

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Una edición correcta para lo que es un telefilme de por si difícil de ver. De todas formas mediatres tampoco es que se haya lucido mucho con los DVD editados de Kurosawa. Factibles sin mas. Versión original ,doblado al castellano y subtítulos al castellano. En cuanto a lo que es el telefilme en si mismo, es de corte paranormal con esa exquisitez habitual de los trabajos de Kurosawa, y con un reparto trabajando a conciencia.

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Khaliel

Captivant

Reviewed in France on May 24, 2018

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Sans être le meilleur film de Kurosawa, ça reste une oeuvre très intéressante où une situation un peu délicate au début vire au cauchemar par une enchainement de situations maladroites.
Un film captivant.

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Manuel Lacher

Eher Krimi als Horrorfilm!

Reviewed in Germany on July 28, 2007

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Nun heutzutage denkt man ja das japanische Horrorfilme oder halt Gruselfilme immer gruslig sein müssten. Allerdings kommt dieser Grusel hier leider nicht auf. Die Story ist zwar nach vollziehbar doch ab und zu muss man schon gut aufpassen das man dann auch wieder mitkommt. Ein Mädchen versteckt sich in einem Koffer eines Mannes (sehr logisch) wobei dort wohl die Luft (logisch) zu knapp wird. Wird der Mann jedoch merken das er das Mädchen in den Koffer reingesteckt hat???? Wie er das herausfindet oder ob er es herausfindet verrate ich hier nicht.

Die schauspielerische Leistung ist allerdings wirklich gut. Die Musik passt auch gut dazu. Leider ist der Film viel zu langweilig aufgebaut. Es passiert kaum etwas und es gibt keine Schockmomente. Es gab vielleicht mal eine etwas unheimlichere Szene bezüglich Garage (näher gehe ich nicht darauf ein) allerdings wars das dann.

Zwei Sterne da man den Film als Krimi bezeichnen kann. Allerdings wer sich hier einen Gruselfilm erwartet hat sich trotz des wirklich unheimlichen Covers geeirrt.

6 people found this helpful

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sickworld666

langweilig

Reviewed in Germany on October 21, 2010

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ich hatte mir mehr erhofft und wurde bitter enttäuscht. der film ist es nicht wert zu laufen...

2 people found this helpful

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