Fans of the macabre are now able to order a special Collector’s Edition Blu-ray to mark the 25h anniversary of Audition, the celebrated psychological horror movie by Takashi Miike. The souvenir item, which is being released by Umbrella Entertainment in January, promises to be a rich grab bag of materials related to Miike’s 1999 film.
When collectors open the custom-designed outer rigid slipcase, they’ll find a treasure trove of items from the dark side of Audition, including a 48-page bound book, eight replica lobby cards, an A3 reversible poster, audio commentaries by Mieke and his screenwriter Daisuke Tengan, and a video essay by Alexandra Heller Nicholas. Also included will be exclusive audio commentaries by filmmakers Aaron McCann and Dominic Pearce, as well as interviews with actors Renji Ishibashi, Ryo Ishibashi, Ren Osugi, and Eihi Shima.
Described by the producers as a “psychological [film] that explores the dark side of love and obsession,” Audition is based on the best-selling novel by Ryu Murakami. The storyline narrates the saga of a lonely widower who camouflages his search for a new wife as a movie audition.
As he falls in love with one of the candidates, he comes to discover her dark past, which ultimately comes to haunt the hapless widower. Director Takashi Miike’s other credits include 13 Assassins and Ichi The Killer.
Shot in Tokyo in just three weeks in 1999, Audition was originally conceived by the Omega Project, a production company that wanted to follow up with its previous successful production of Hideo Nakata’s Ring.
Audition It premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival but received more notoriety when it was later screened at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, receiving both the FIPRRESCI Prize and the KNF Award. The film is widely considered to be one of the best horror films ever made.
Critics have commented on the twin themes of misogyny and feminism that the film has evoked, particularly in relation to the final scene, with its depictions of torture and psychological trauma.
The commemorative Blu-Ray edition can now be ordered from Umbrella Entertainment for delivery in January of 2024.
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