This show marked a new milestone for him because of such extensive use of delicate, colorful yet grim cinematography. Previously, he usually used just more simple, darker camera works. The way he directs Hideaki Ito, an actor who is seemingly forever typecasted as knight in shining armor, into an anti-hero without changing his usual acting style to great effect was also a brilliant move. His character, Hasumin, is an insane psychopath without any motives but "divinely" given by evil himself. Yes, some would find that in the end no revelation about this, but just like a plane crash, no clue is a clue itself.
This show is not for the faint-hearted and should be avoided by those who can't take gore and gay scenes (though the latter is few). Though at the beginning some introductions of characters were made and relatively slow-paced it was, all hell breaks loose when it hits the last 30 minutes mark. Yet Miike successfully inserted some dark comedy in it (I find some of these were very funny).
Due to great directing and excellent casting, acting-wise this show is really great. They should've make more shows featuring potential wonderkids like this, since in these years they are aplenty. They are good as individuals as well as corporate. Not all of these kids were given chance to portray their character with depth, but those who were (perhaps only 10 or so) did their respective job very well. It's not surprising that most of them were previously playing in wonderkid shows (i.e Kokuhaku, Suzuki Sensei the series, Another, Himizu, and/or Kirishima), so the choice of casting those who were already proven themselves pays off. I hope they find themselves landing on shows with good directing like this so their skills will be honed.
All in all, a good watch, perhaps almost on par with Kokuhaku. Almost forgot, the music was also creepy as well and fits perfectly with the show.
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The psychopath theme was done quite well and at some points I found myself kind of routing for Hasumin. He was entertaining, his acting was great, and his weapon of choice was perfect. Now I don't approve of psychopaths, but when they are done right and make you really believe them... then that's an A in my book. For the other characters, I can say I liked that the audience got to know some of the students so that we could feel some emotion towards them even if they weren't all happy.
Hmmm....The only thing that I didn't really like was small sections nudity and that one scene; but if you look away from screen you won't be ruining your innocence. ^.^
All in all, if you want a good psycho movie that shocks you all the way to the end, then this is the one for you.
*bonus: It even has a creepy song to go along with it
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Lesson of the Evil is dark and pulls no punches. No, the English isn't wrong. The 'the' is definitely correct. Anyone who thought Takashi Miike had gone soft or mainstream because of 13 Assassins gets his answer right here. This master of shock, horror, and otherwise oddball characters lets us all know he's not done with the crazy.
Lesson the Evil is dark. Wait, did I say that? Well, it is. it is violent. It is bloody. Ito's character is rancid. He's like the Joker from Batman, but not as friendly (or sane perhaps). He plays his role well and is rarely not smiling which just added to the creepy. By the way, there are scenes with gay undertones, as well as, statuatory rape. If you think that might bother you, do not watch this movie.
If you like crazy people horror and violence isn't much of a concern to you, grab your popcorn and watch the mayhem.
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This review may contain spoilers
great cinematography but no actual substance
If you wanted to just look at the directing and cinematography in Lesson of the Evil, it was really well-done. I've never watched a film by Takashi Miike before but this definitely makes me want to check more of his stuff purely for his stylistic direction choices alone. There are some very gorgeous shots consistently throughout out the film and along with the lovely colour-grading the cinematography was definitely high-quality.I was also pleasantly surprised by the casting choices too - Hideaki Ito did a great job in his main role, being able to seamlessly switch from being a seemingly charming teacher to deeply unsettlingly. The supporting cast was well-chosen too, with everyone delivering solid and believable performances. The good acting along with the cinematography and directing choices helped build up the overall "creepy" atmosphere throughout the film.
However, all of that aside, it was ultimately just unpleasant to watch. Even it comes to horror, there is usually a certain threshold of tolerance a person has. This surpassed that threshold for the vast majority of people, myself included. You're basically just watching a teacher slaughter an entire class of his students; - by the end of the film you are just watching a prolonged massacre.
All that said, the fatal flaw for this is film really lies in the fact that there was nothing either remotely likeable or substantial about in the story itself. Hasumi the teacher certainly isn't likeable, and all of the students are either unlikeable or very stupid. And the plot itself was flimsy at best. The beginning had a slow-build up and by the end of the film there were numerous gaping plot-holes. If there wasn't going to be anything likeable about any of the characters, you would at least hope the plot would be more substantial with plot twists or some type of depth. But you don't get any of that, instead it just fully delivers at its face value (aka the goriest of gore).
You can't latch onto any of the element of the story because ultimately, this film was made for the sake of delivering the goriest of gore and shock-factor. It's pretty apparent there is no other substance behind it. I ultimately couldn't find anything to like in this film and I am not surprised that a lot of other people didn't either.
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There really is no plot except he kills cos he wants to. But by god it is great to see how messed up the school is and then see his personality unravel and so on.
It's a great film if you just want to enjoy a lot of violence, and like I said, films similar to this! (listed above).
It's got some great names/actors in this too and you get a glimpse into most students of the students lives.
And by god that ending!!!
It's been three years: WHERES MY SEQUEL!? xD
Bottom Line: Lacks in 'actual' plot but very enjoyable and I did laugh out loud now and again xD Particularly the PE teacher's moments.
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I was actually more or less okay with gore because it wasn't that much, but it was very bloody, which doesn't bother me. What bothered me was the story. Honestly, I just didn't know what the movie was trying to tell me, or if it was trying to say anything, and I still don't. With that said, there is a lot to say about the gripping directing, keeping me all the way to the end while I knew early on that the story wasn't for me. Talking about directing, we need to mention the pacing, the colours used, and the music, coming together in perfect harmony with the world we are being led to.
The movie starts at a slow pace, and the pace gets picked up a little at a time, until the second half when things started happening at a much faster rate. We start in an apparent peaceful setting, where the danger starts creeping onto you without noticing. The colour used were pretty depressing, highlighting an apparent mundane life. That is until the bloody red colour starts taking over and making everything more lively, secret start getting revealed, and death everywhere. All this while listening to placed The Ballad of Mack the Knife. The lyrics were so the appropriate and the music so engrossing I felt I was being brainwashed. It really sets the tone of the scene.
Last but CERTAINLY not least, the acting. Of course the most prominent role here is that of Ito Hideaki. Lets just say I will NEVER be able to look at him the same way again. He had this detached feeling to him, no matter how nice he was and how much I wanted to trust him at the beginning. The way he's unflinched by anything at all was the scariest of all. Other then him, there were a number of adult actors but they weren't outstanding. The outstanding ones were the students. Each of them was distinguishable to say the least. Oh but I hated the white guy in the show. I don't maybe because his lines here so cheesy? Well he did look creepy but many times he felt out of place.
Do I recommend this movie? I'm still not sure, all I can say is, while watching it, the feeling of hopelessness kept growing more and more, that anyone can put an end to this hell.
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Will not spoil anything, but it’s worth a watch.
Some points will make you think, while others will make you grip your seat in anticipation.
If you have a dark humor like me, let’s just say that the music is on point in those moments.
There will always be people who will dislike this movie for the themes it portrays, and they are welcome to have their opinion, but to me this is a really good movie.
There is not much else to say.
10/10
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All of Miike's films that I've watched are based of a manga or novel. Lessons of the Evil is based on a novel by Yusuke Kishi who also wrote Shinsekai Yori (From the New World, and the anime is so good) so I expected a well-off adaptation. Instead I get something that tired me out for two hours with not much value. We just get another sociopath of the loose and to be honest, I'm tired of using that card. We know about them and they fascinate us yet we don't really see another interesting side to them.
What is Harasumi's driving force? Or does he, as a sociopath not have any? It's a character with no backbone. We get a history but it doesn't have substance. Same goes for the many other minor characters. We know them and they get a bit of spotlight yet they're just chopped off once they serve their purpose, it's almost irritating to have a bunch of characters.
Miike has always been an unpredictable director that swims with violence and murder as themes in his movies. You can never know who dies and lives and I guess that's something that at least keeps this movie intriguing for me. The use of cheesy and jazz music and ironic props is another. It's a great contrast with the overall theme of the film.
I'm just so disappointed that Sometani and Nikaido's screen time are so short, they didn't get to shine as the amazing actors they are that much. (But they really have good chemistry together...not romantically but on screen, they complement each other). I mean, Sometani has this face on. But it's a face that's distinct no matter what genre the movie is. And Nikaido always pulls of her characters with a sense of strength even if the situation says otherwise...but here, they didn't give her that. Where is the innocent face that has this secrecy that makes her scary and amazing to watch? This isn't here and her presence here is so little it doesn't give her credit. Surely, it's a change but it's not a good one. (But okay fine, she's not the main here anyway...)
There's an amazing pool of young actors here. They could've been given more screen time. But I get it, two hours is already long enough. First hour is all about build-up and then the last 30-45 minutes is Harasumi's execution of God's Will (although honestly, I'm sick and tired of using that same trope). That's why it's not as entertaining as I hope it to be because of the slow pace and a sudden overwhelming pace towards the end that uses the same elements.
Of course, Hideaki pulls of his character well. And he should since 2 hours of the film is devoted to him and everything he does (ironically, we know nothing much about him). He has a presence and charm that makes this role perfect for him.
Cinematography wise, Miike makes use of details. Compared to his other films, I think he actually held back with this a little when it comes to gore. Sure, you see blood everywhere but it's not actually highlighted that much. I also like the change when it comes to colors (just like his take on As Gods Will), there's at least a combination of light and grimness that matches the overall context of the film.
But in the end, it's just done sloppy and repetitive killing of the innocents. What does the film want us to take home after watching it? That's the ultimate question mark. Some films scare us, some make us cry, some entertain us...I don't know what Lesson of the Evil's purpose is.
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A Dark and Twisted Thriller by Takashi Miike
Takashi Miike, known for his bold and provocative filmmaking, delivers another unsettling masterpiece with "Lesson of the Evil." This psychological thriller takes you on a disturbing journey into the mind of a charismatic high school teacher, where the lines between good and evil blur in the most chilling ways imaginable. Not one to shy away from extreme violence and gore, Takashi Miike serves another great movie experience.The film wastes no time in plunging viewers into the dark underbelly of a high school plagued by rampant cheating, bullying, and teachers who cross ethical boundaries. At the center of this chaos is Professor Hasumi, portrayed with chilling conviction by Ito Hideki. Hasumi initially appears as a beloved teacher, adored by his students. However, beneath the facade of a caring educator lies a remorseless killer who believes in solving students' issues through murder. What begins as a twisted form of vigilante justice spirals into a descent into madness, compelling Hasumi to take increasingly drastic measures to conceal his crimes.
Miike's direction shines as the film expertly navigates the duality of Hasumi's character. Through well-placed flashbacks and a relentless pace, viewers gain insight into the motivations behind his actions. As curiosity about his past threatens to expose him, Hasumi's transformation into a sadistic murderer is portrayed with unnerving precision. The supporting cast, though primarily serving as fodder for Hasumi's sadistic nature, adds to the film's unsettling atmosphere.
'Lesson of the Evil' excels in showcasing the gruesome consequences of Hasumi's actions, culminating in a crescendo of violence that leaves an indelible mark. From themes of bullying, harassment, and blackmail to moments of nudity and brutal deaths, the film spares no detail in its exploration of horror.
In conclusion, 'Lesson of the Evil' is not for the faint of heart. If you possess the stomach for extreme violence and gore, this movie offers a captivating and disturbing cinematic experience. Ito Hideki's remarkable performance, combined with Miike's unflinching direction, makes this film a standout entry in the director's challenging body of work. It's a 'magnificent' descent into darkness that lingers long after the credits roll.
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LESSON OF THE EVIL (Japanese Movie)
PLOT:
First of all I was not expecting for a movie like this. This film was so brutal. Not advisable for those persons who have weak heart. I was angered by this film and I was expecting for the killer's most tragic death. I want to see him die but unfortunately until the end he did not die. He's even smiling and the odds was still with him. I don't know what I should feel with the movie but I felt heaviness within me after watching it. I want to do the revenge in behalf of all his victims. He even killed those actors and actresses that I've known and like... Huhuhu. What's hilarious about this movie was the ending. The girl was thrown from the rooftop and fortunately she did not died. :-)
ACTING/CASTS
This kind of acting is very hard to pull through. And all casts did a good job. I just don't like how they all ended like that. Huhuhu
MUSIC
Some of the most weird music I've ever heard and was used as background music was in this film. It reminds me of some films with the same genre like The Purge and I don't like it.
OVERALL
I really don't know why I was able to finish the film. Actually I'm still angry while writing this review.grrrrr.... Well I'll be giving a 8/10 rating for this. I don't want to give a low rating just because I hate it. I just want to appreciate the cinematography, the acting and the casts effort because they are suerb. I just don't like the genre, it was not what I've expected. :-)
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Pros:
- Panic-inducing scenes of hopeless carnage that is truly disturbing and upsetting
Cons:
- The presentation is so poorly assembled that it makes the point of the movie feel like it is praising the heinous actions
- Awful character development that fails at creating an interesting protagonist with clear motives and reason for his actions
- Due to the serious nature of the subject matter and the contrasting apathy/silliness presented by the main character, the movie just comes off as cruel and edgy
Final thoughts:
Save yourself the time and watch something better like Confessions. There is actually a point to that movie!
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