We adore being swept in by a story and caught up in a clever, intellectual, well-thought-out cinematic turn. Is there a pattern for story twists, or is it an ever-changing technique in the film? We've compiled a list of notable and lesser-known Japanese movies for their clever event turnarounds. Some are startlingly daring by today's standards, while others have had their luster worn away by the films that have inspired them.
1. One Cut Of The Dead (2017)
Must begin with Director Ueda. He managed to unite famous and expert critics on the filming aesthetic charm and narrative mastery displayed in ONE CUT OF THE DEAD. When a hack director and film team are filming a low-budget zombie film at an abandoned WWII Japanese facility, they are besieged by real zombies.
2. Like Father Like Son (2013)
Ryota is a successful businessman who works tirelessly. When he discovers that his biological son was exchanged with another child after delivery, he is forced to choose between his genuine son and the boy he and his wife had nurtured as their own.
3. Fish Story (2009)
Several seemingly unconnected but surprisingly interrelated stories illustrate how, 37 years later, a Japanese band that independently originated punk rock in 1975 is linked to a comet destined to destroy the world.
4. Special Actors (2019)
This is another well-written, directed, and, most importantly, entertaining film that deserves to be on this list. Kazuto has always wanted to be an actor, but he has a rare medical condition that causes him to faint and collapse when he becomes excited.
5. Confessions (2010)
A psychological thriller about a bereaved mother who becomes a cold-blooded avenger with a twisting master plan to get revenge on those responsible for her daughter's death.
6. Ikigami, The Ultimate Limit (2008)
Ikigami is set in a dystopian society the government has enacted the "Prosperity Law." This law requires 1000 randomly selected people between the ages of 18 and 24 to die for the state in a required lottery. Death happens at a predetermined date and time when an injected nano-capsule, received at a young age, explodes. The law is intended to induce dread in individuals to motivate them to live the best lives possible.
7. Symbol (2009)
Symbol may be one neglected masterwork that never received an official international release. The 4th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong gave it the most recognition. Plot: A man awakens in a white room with nothing but buttons on the walls; he must figure out which button to press to achieve his desires.
8. Dynamic Venus (2014) Short
Even though Dynamic Venus was not selected for various local Japanese festivals, the merged Japanese and Serbian distinguished jury was united in their choice to honor DV as the JSFF’s best film of 2015. PLOT: Dynamic Venus, the mysterious superwoman. She is a homemaker subjected to her husband's aggression daily, but her true nature is alien.
9. Roommate (2013)
Harumi, who has lost her memories due to an accident, becomes Reiko's roommate. However, after a series of strange occurrences, Harumi suspicions Reiko and attempts to track her down.
10. House (1977)
House is a cult classic for a reason. It begins as a beautiful fairy tale journey about seven friends heading to the countryside for a wonderful summer vacation. The video appears to be routine up to this point, but things begin to turn sour quickly after they arrive at the property in question. Items become weirder and weirder from there.
