The Scope

“There are so many fads… like cell phones! You hallucinate. Go kill yourself. Thank you”

Written and directed by Sion Sono.

What type of horror movie is it? A particularly gory social commentary.

The film begins as 54 young Japanese school girls join hands and hurl themselves in front of an oncoming train. Soon, it seems, there is an epidemic of unexplained suicides and the police have no idea how to confront it. Could it have something to do with a mysterious web page? Or maybe there’s a suicide cult on the go. Then there’s that obnoxious tween girl group, “Dessert” and their ubiquitous hit, “Mail Me”. Hmmm…

Suicide Circle starts with a bang, then drifts all over the place and back again. There’s plenty of straight-up gore, but director Sion Sono has important issues on his mind as well. He uses the film to explore youth fads, the generation gap, and the role of media in modern Japan, all the while finding time for a tribute to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. In the hands of a lesser filmmaker, the story would run the risk of cramming too much in to even be enjoyed, much less understood, but Sono’s vision is clear even when his story isn’t. Throughout the film, the police receive untraceable phone calls from children asking philosophical questions about the suicides, and what they mean about existence. Through that sub-plot, Sono’s film argues that the world has become impersonal, confused, and decadent. From the perspective of the children, the suicides are a solution, reminding the public at large of a greater spiritual connection between all living things. These suicides aren’t a bizarre murder case, but an act of rebellion in a society too self-centred to pause and consider the value of life.

Philosophizing aside, Suicide Circle is sometimes a cop film*, and sometimes it feels like a ghost film, but then it turns into a music video when you least expect it. If that sounds disjointed, that’s because it is. And if you like a linear film that delivers straight answers, maybe this isn’t the movie for you. On the other hand, if you don’t mind being taken for a wild ride, hop on. It all makes sense in the end… at least from a thematic standpoint.

Availability: Suicide Circle is available on DVD

-Adam Clarke & Rodney Wall
*Minus the inimitable Danny Glover screaming “RIIIIIGS!”, of course.