Daihachi Yoshida pens and directs a film whose strongest point is the presentation of so many dissimilar characters, although all of which are members of the same family and have to interact within the same environment.

| Nov 30, 2019

Writer/director Yoshida Daihachi fills his brightly-lit scenes with darkness between relatives - some mild, some involving physical abuse - but the occasional laughs and visual flairs prevent the movie from ever becoming a dour affair.

| Original Score: B- | Jul 5, 2015

The film's wacky ghoulishness holds your attention, but there's not much more than that on offer. Despite a lot of manic effort, none of the actors makes an impression.

| Original Score: 2/5 | May 7, 2009

Seduction, persecution, prostitution, suicide and uneasy laughter follow.

| May 7, 2009

With Kyomi's manga-drawing skills a key part of the scenario, the visual approach is sometimes too fluffily decorative to let the emotions deliver in full. Eminently likeable nonetheless.

| Original Score: 3/6 | May 1, 2009

Tonally, it strikes a curious balance between black comedy and melodrama, but visually it's a striking film.

| Original Score: 2/5 | May 1, 2009

The idea of step-siblings thrown together in death is a good one: but this wacky, soapy treatment is odd, to say the least.

| Original Score: 2/5 | May 1, 2009

Crisply shot with visual flourishes punctuating the unfussy direction, despite a lack of carnage, this is an accomplished and impressive depiction of some absolute barnpots. Those who like their laughs lightly flavoured with ash should check it out.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 1, 2009

The calm, deadpan chronicling of what, one trusts, is an untypical rural Japanese family suggests a very black comedy. Slightly too long but hypnotically told, beautifully acted and not at all depressing.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 1, 2009

This is uneven and not entirely satisfying but it's worth seeing for its flat out weirdness and the superb performances from Sato and Nagasaku.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 30, 2009

Has a talented cast yet looks like a television soap.

Full Review | Jan 30, 2008

Sibling rivalry is the source of violence and creativity in amusing Japanese dramedy Funuke.

| May 24, 2007