'Most disturbing film ever' is little-known 1990s film with 83% rating now on Prime

Psychological Horror Film “The Audition” Still Provokes Intense Reactions

This Japanese cinematic work, “The Audition”, remains a profoundly unsettling psychological horror film, so impactful that one critic reportedly suggested a police inquiry into its production. A renowned director is also said to have ejected the DVD from his residence, deeming it excessively “frightful” after only viewing half. Conversely, devotees laud it as a remarkably potent and disturbing piece, often credited with initiating a distinctive subgenre of horror that gained global prominence in the early 2000s.

The Sinister Premise of “The Audition”

Directed by Takashi Miike, “The Audition” centers on Shigeharu, a bereaved widower (portrayed by Ryo Ishibashi), who devises a deceptive scheme with a filmmaker acquaintance. They stage auditions for a fictitious movie project as an elaborate ruse to vet potential partners for Shigeharu. Falling for the seemingly demure Asami (played by Eihi Shiina), Shigeharu soon discovers the catastrophic error of his judgment. Despite initial reservations concerning Asami’s inconsistent background – lacking verification for her claims of a curtailed ballet career – Shigeharu persists in his pursuit, even proposing marriage. The unsettling truth emerges when it’s revealed that individuals who could vouch for her past are deceased.

Critical Acclaim and Polarizing Interpretations

Renowned film critic Mark Kermode recounted years after its release how he was reduced to “hiding behind the seat in front of me cowering in terror” by the film’s conclusion. He shared an anecdote about lending it to the celebrated British director Ken Russell, who, after watching half, allegedly threw the disc out of his window, vehemently questioning Kermode’s judgment in bringing “something so frightful” into his home. Despite this extreme reaction, Kermode declared it his film of the year. Its award-winning presentation at the Rotterdam Film Festival further amplified its exposure to critics, who, according to Kermode, held sharply contrasting views, divided “between those who viewed it as a misogynist nightmare and those who embraced it as a feminist revenge allegory with teeth.”

Diverse Perspectives from Film Critics

• Peter Bradshaw, in a 2015 Guardian article, hailed “The Audition” as a “stomach-turning masterpiece,” interpreting the female protagonist as an agent of vengeance “bent on punishing typically Japanese male arrogance, but also self-pity and incipient masochism.”
• Stephanie Archer, writing for Film Inquiry, described it as a “slow burner of a horror, an almost perfect example of a frog in boiling water,” highlighting its gradual escalation of suspense.
• Carolyn Hands, contributing to JoySauce.com, expressed a lingering unease: “a film I’ve seen once and I’m not sure I’ll ever see again because it’s so effectively disturbing, which is exactly what you want with a horror film.”
• Chuck Bowen, in Slant magazine, offered a thematic interpretation: “The film is a brutal examination of social isolation and malaise, and the gulf that often exists between men and women.”

Deeper Thematic Layers: Misogyny, Feminism, and Japanese Culture

Based on a novel, “The Audition” has been subjected to extensive analysis. Anna-Maria Ninnas, in a detailed Medium article, argues against simplistic interpretations: “Audition has been critiqued as both misogynistic due to [Shigeharu’s] motivations, as well as feminist due to Asami’s inevitable revenge on the man who wronged her. In actuality, it’s neither: there’s a much deeper underlying commentary addressing Japanese women’s evolution from their ‘traditional’ selves.” Ninnas elaborates, suggesting the source material “punishes men for the unreal standards set to Japanese women, romanticising an oppressive, patriarchal past,” while the film explores “the source of that ‘longing’ for the ‘traditional’ woman, which is the underlying belief that Japanese culture dies with the empowerment of women, thus the trend of demonising women in J-horror.”

Viewer Impact and Enduring Power

One viewer’s testimonial encapsulates the film’s profound effect: it “might just hold the crown as the most disturbing film I’ve ever seen… as it takes you for a loop by presenting what looks to be this very by-the-numbers romantic dramedy only to pull the rug from underneath and deliver a deeply terrifying and sadistic tale of how someone is not who they seem to be.” Despite being over two decades old, “The Audition” retains its unsettling power and ability to shock. For those seeking to experience this renowned work of psychological horror, it is readily accessible for streaming on platforms such as Amazon Prime (included with premium subscriptions), YouTube and Google Play (starting from £1.99), and Apple TV (starting from £3.49).