Another Heaven 2003 Horror Movie Review

Wow!

This film begins with a simmer

heats up slowly

and ends at a full boil.


It is a psycho killer murder mystery

and a metaphysical reflection on the

human condition and the nature of evil.


There is lots of gore, action,

plot twists, interesting characters,

etc., etc., etc.


Not being Japanese or having knowledge

of Japanese culture and philosophty,

I no doubt was unable to fully appreciate

the themes, but they fascinated me nonetheless.


There is a quote from the Holy Bible at the

beginning of the film which led me to believe

that the film had a Christian world view,

but it actually a blending of several

philosophical and theological ideas.

Reading the Fangoria magazine article

which is included as a special feature

on the DVD helps to illuminate what the

film-makers intended.


Evil as a creature with intellect and will

that acts in the world of the senses

is here coexisting with the interior evil

inherent in every person, both of which

must be contended with.

This struggle with passive and active evil

is the conflict that drives the film

and it is displayed in many of its

manifestations, from sadistic murder and

rape to self-love and judging by appearances,

among others.


The content of the English subtitles

for this Japanese language movie

appear to be poorly done, which is too bad

for a film where dialog is very important.


I have only viewed the film once and I ought

to view it again to understand it better.

After one viewing my brain is a stew.