Audition sits alone on this list in the sense that it's the only movie here that starts out as a genuine rom-com, before slowly descending into a horror experience unlike no other. As one of the best and most intriguing J-horror films of recent times, director Takashi Miike's intention seems to be to lure you into a false sense of security, before unleashing a bag of nightmares - quite literally. So Audition begins with a widower, Aoyama, teaming up with his film producer friend to hold auditions for a fake production, whilst concealing their true purpose: to find Aoyama a wife. And for roughly half the film, we follow Aoyama's light-hearted antics as he goes about his task. Indeed, the premise could easily find itself repackaged across seas with Hugh Grant in the lead role. Soon enough, however, things start to get a little weird: when Aoyama believes he's found the perfect girl, she turns out to be quite different. The storyline slowly moves towards the movie's final scene, in which several terrible acts are committed. "Kiri, kiri" - translated into English, these words mean "deeper, deeper." After the finale, they're two words you're never going to forget.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
