Who is That Girl? (2024)

Who is That Girl? A Japanese horror movie. Directed by Takashi Shimzu. Starring Nagisa Shibuya.

For the first time I watched a J-horror movie in a theater. I had thought that I would be scared of watching it in it far more than in my room alone, however, it was the other way around. I was far less done with people even if they are strangers than with nobody. I would be most scared of doing it late at night in my room without light. I usually see a horror movie in the daytime and in the evening in my lit room.

I was disappointed at some of the bit players with poor acting skills, who tend to appear in B movies. It does not happen in films only with good actors. Nagisa Shibuya first starred and relatively gave a good performance in it. I believe that her acting must be irresistible to fans of her. Although I had not liked her at all, yet I almost came to like her a little. Then the ending was shocking. Overall, it was entertaining. I knew the reason why it is having a long run.

あのコはだぁれ？（2024）

『あのコはだぁれ？』。日本のホラー。清水崇監督作。主演は渋谷凪咲。

Ｊホラーを初めて映画館で観賞。怖さは自分の部屋で観るよりも倍増するかな、と思ったが、逆だった。見ず知らずの他人でも、一緒に観ている人がいるのといないのとでは全然違う。夜遅くに一人で部屋の電気を消して観るのが一番怖いのだろう。日頃からホラーを観る時は常に昼か夜でも早い時間に部屋を明るくして観ることにしている。

Ｂ級映画にありがちな端役の演技の拙さに白けてしまった。やはり、演技の上手い役者たちばかりの作品とは違う。それでも、映画初主演の渋谷凪咲は初めての割には好演していたと思う。彼女のファンには堪らない作品だろう。私も、全く好きではなかったが、少し好きになりかけた。そして、ラストが衝撃的。総合的にも面白かった。ロングランの理由も分かった。

Desperate Hours (1990)

Desperate Hours. An American action thriller film. Directed by Michael Chimino. Starring Mickey Rourke.

Anthony Hopkins acted in it. His role was an ordinary middle-aged man who was completely different from Dr. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs which was released in the next year. Then I felt that the 1990 film was dated, unliked the Oscar winner. Mickey Rourke was sexy and awesome, though.

逃亡者（1990）

 『逃亡者』。アメリカのアクション・スリラー映画。マイケル・チミノ監督作。主演はミッキー・ローク。

アンソニー・ホプキンスも出演。翌年の『羊たちの沈黙』でのレスター博士役とは全く違って冴えないおじさん役だ。作品としても、あのアカデミー受賞作品と違って古臭く感じた。だが、ミッキー・ロークはセクシーでカッコよかった。

The Inugami Family (1976)

The Inugami Family. A Japanese mystery film. Directed by Kon Ichikawa. Starring Koji Ishizaka. Based on the book with the same name written by Seishi Yokomizo.

The movie is not disgusting but makes me gloomy.

Mieko Takamine was beautiful, especially in the climax part. She had a sultry expression on the face. She then was in her late fifties. What a marvelous lady! She was far prettier than the young Yoko Shimada.

Mitsuko Kusabue appeared in it. She then was in her early forties and was exuding presence. At present she was 90 years old and starred in 90 Years Old – So What? that was released this year. What a perennial actor!

Kosuke Kindaichi, the protagonist, have a lot of dandruff. I did it too in my school days, however, it dwindled as my hair got thin. I got old.

犬神家の一族（1976）

『犬神家の一族』。日本のミステリー・ドラマ映画。市川崑監督作。主演は石坂浩二。原作は横溝正史の小説。

胸糞というほどではないが、気分が重くなる作品。

高峰三枝子が、特にクライマックスの場面で綺麗だった。その不敵な面構えに色気が漂っていた。公開時50代後半。凄い。若い島田陽子よりも断然綺麗だった。

草笛光子も出演。公開当時は40代前半。抜群の存在感だった。そして、現在は90歳。今年公開された『九十歳。何がめでたい』にも主演している。とても息の長い役者さんだ。

頭のふけが多い金田一耕助。私も学生時代は多かったが、髪が薄くなるにつれて減っていった。年を取った。

No Way Out (1987)

No Way Out. An American action thriller film. Directed by Roger Donaldson. Starring Kevin Costner.

Kevin Costner co-stars with Gene Hackman in the movie, so I watched it, however, the thrilling story was more entertaining than their acting. Then the last part amazed me. Sorry to say, I felt that it was dated, unlike The Untouchables which was released in the same year.

Costner in a white officer uniform was odd to me. I like him wearing a suit who appears in JFK and Thirteen Days. 

追い詰められて（1987）

『追い詰められて』。アメリカのアクション・スリラー映画。ロジャー・ドナルドソン監督作。主演はケビン・コスナー。

ケビン・コスナーとジーン・ハックマンが共演しているので観てみたが、彼らの演技というよりスリラー映画として魅せられた。そして、最後にちょっとした驚きが待っていた。残念ながら、作品自体は同年に公開された『アンタッチャブル』と違って古く感じた。

コスナーの白い軍服に違和感。『JFK』や『13デイズ』の時のようなスーツ姿の方が好きだ。

Ring (1998)

Ring. A Japanese horror movie. Directed by Hideo Nakata. Starring Nanako Matsushima. Hiroyuki Sanada acted in it.

Since my childhood I had had a dread of horror movies because I tend to be easily scared. I told the people around me that I did not have the reason why I see movies that are not enjoyable but horrible, though I was just afraid of them in fact. Moreover, I did not like grotesque scenes, however, I did no longer mind grotesque ones thanks to One Cut of the Dead. Thinking carefully, it is natural that the ones are made artificially. Anyway, the 2017 movie concretely showed me that grotesque things were artificial, so I have borne seeing the ones since then. Also, I have begun gradually seeing horror movies because of this hot summer.

I first watched the 1998 film that was released a quarter of a century ago. Beforehand a friend who loved horror ones told me that although the movie was horrible being release, yet it might be not and it might become dated at the present time, for the blockbuster should had influenced a lot of moving pictures and dramas which I might have already seen. I was startled several times but I did not feel with fear so much as expected. Most people had said that it was horrible since it was released, so I was disappointed thinking that rumors are unreliable.

I felt that the famous scene was like a conte watching Hiroyuki Sanada frightening.

Unreal and imaginary ghosts are not horrible so much. I am just shocked at the sound effects and awful scenes.

リング（1998）

『リング』。日本のホラー。中田秀夫監督作。主演は松嶋菜々子。真田広之出演。

子供の頃からビビり症なのでホラーは苦手だった。ただ怖がっているだけのくせに、楽しくもない怖いだけの映画を観る理由が無い、と周りには言っていた。また、そのグロさも苦手だった。だが、そのグロさへの苦手意識は『カメラを止めるな！』が解消してくれた。よく考えれば当たり前の話なのだが、グロい映像は作り物である、ということを具体的に知れて、それ以降は割とグロさにも耐えられるようになった。そして、暑さのせいもあり、今夏はホラー映画を徐々に観始めた。

四半世紀以上も前の本作を初観賞。ホラー好きの友人には、いろんな作品に影響を与えているヒット作なので、公開時はとても怖かったけど、今だったら既視感もあったりして古臭く感じるかも、と言われていたが、案の定、数回ビビらされただけでそれほど怖くは無かった。公開された当時は誰もが怖いと言っていたので、こんなものか、と拍子抜けした。

あの有名なシーンは、恐れおののく真田広之を観ながら、まるでコントだな、と思った。

リアルには感じられない想像上の霊にそれほど怖さは無い。効果音や恐ろし気な映像に一時的にビビッてしまうだけだ。