Cold Fish

Mr. Sono is an uncompromising filmmaker. His resume is filled with odd characters, unnatural situations and twists that come at you from nowhere. This is based on a true story about a sadistic couple who killed dog lovers (the truth is stranger than fiction). In this film, Mr. Shamoto (Mitsuru Fukikoshi) owns a tropical fish shop. His second wife is Taeko (the still amazing Asuka Kurosawa, who was the star of the stunning "A Snake Of June) and his daughter Mitsuko live with him. Mitsuko shoplifts and is threatened with the police but Mr. Murata (a terrificly over the top Denden)persuades that shop owner to let her go. It turns out, Murata owns a large tropical fish store and agrees to have Mitsuko work for him. If this sounds too perfect, too much like a perfect turn of events..it is. Eventually, Mr. Shamoto leans about Murata but he is in too deep by then. Not for the faint of heart, but it is a riveting, sometimes gory horror/drama, with a little black comedy thrown in. The acting is uniformly very good. Worthy of your time, especially for admirers of Mr. Sono's work, but not for everyone.