Nightmare Detective 2
Encyclopedia
is a 2008 Japanese horror
film and sequel, directed by Shinya Tsukamoto
, to the 2007 film Nightmare Detective
, starring Ryuhei Matsuda
as Kyoichi Kaganuma.
) contemplates suicide while slowly drowns in his world of misery. Yukie Mashiro (Yui Miura), having heard rumours about Kagenuma's extraordinary abilities, visits his home to beg for his help.
She tells him she suffers from nightly nightmares that are getting scarier. The murderous ghost in the dreams has already killed two of her friends and she's afraid she's the next to die. She believes that only Kagenuma could save her. Kagenuma ignores her pleas for help. Yukie, refusing to give up, returns every day to change his mind.
Kagenuma finally decides to take on Yukie's case to understand the circumstances of his mother's death. It, however, demands from Kagenuma more than he expected to give while it leads him into the darkest corners of dreamscape.
Twitchfilm reviewer Ard Fijn gave it a positive review saying: "Shinya Tsukamoto has made a very impressive film with some strong statements about loss and grief, and has wrapped this in a fantasy horror mystery thriller. People expecting a regular entry from one of those four genres are in for either a rude awakening or a pleasant surprise. For me "Nightmare Detective 2" was a pleasant surprise, but many people I spoke with after the viewing were less enamored by the convoluted story."
Japancinema reviewed the film positively, stating: "Nightmare Detective 2 can actually be viewed as a stand alone film, however, watching the original first is always advisable. One big hurdle for viewers to overcome is the fact that this film is jam-packed with ambiguity from start to finish but I urge you not to be driven to frustration. The first film had a visceral brutality to it, as this one on the other hand, can be described as a slow ride into silent darkness." and suggested that a third film would be welcolmed.
Rowthree.com gave the film 4 out of a possible 5 and also commented that he would embrace a third movie, "I for one truly hope that Tsukamoto and Matsuda will return one final time and wrap the story up in a trilogy. I am sure we will be left with as many questions as answers when everything is done but with a character so compelling and Tsukamoto’s unique vision into dreams I for one welcome the challenge of revisiting the Nightmare Detective again."
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
film and sequel, directed by Shinya Tsukamoto
Shinya Tsukamoto
is a Japanese film director and actor with a considerable cult following both domestically and abroad.-Biography:Tsukamoto started making movies at the age of 14, when his father gave him a Super 8 camera. He made a number of films, ranging...
, to the 2007 film Nightmare Detective
Nightmare Detective
is a 2007 Japanese horror film directed by Shinya Tsukamoto and released by Movie-Eye Entertainment Inc, starring Ryuhei Matsuda and hitomi. Masanobu Ando and Ren Osugi play supporting roles, and Tsukamoto himself plays the unnamed villain. The film is shot entirely within Adachi, Tokyo.Nightmare...
, starring Ryuhei Matsuda
Ryuhei Matsuda
is a Japanese film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in Japanese films such as Taboo and Nana.-Early life:Matsuda was born on 9 May 1983 in Tokyo to Yusaku Matsuda, a Japanese actor, and Miyuki Matsuda , a Japanese actress. He has two siblings, one of whom is Japanese actor Shota...
as Kyoichi Kaganuma.
Plot
Still haunted by his unwanted abilities, which allows him to enter other people’s dreams, and memories of his mother dying when he was a child, Kyoichi Kagenuma (Ryuhei MatsudaRyuhei Matsuda
is a Japanese film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in Japanese films such as Taboo and Nana.-Early life:Matsuda was born on 9 May 1983 in Tokyo to Yusaku Matsuda, a Japanese actor, and Miyuki Matsuda , a Japanese actress. He has two siblings, one of whom is Japanese actor Shota...
) contemplates suicide while slowly drowns in his world of misery. Yukie Mashiro (Yui Miura), having heard rumours about Kagenuma's extraordinary abilities, visits his home to beg for his help.
She tells him she suffers from nightly nightmares that are getting scarier. The murderous ghost in the dreams has already killed two of her friends and she's afraid she's the next to die. She believes that only Kagenuma could save her. Kagenuma ignores her pleas for help. Yukie, refusing to give up, returns every day to change his mind.
Kagenuma finally decides to take on Yukie's case to understand the circumstances of his mother's death. It, however, demands from Kagenuma more than he expected to give while it leads him into the darkest corners of dreamscape.
Cast
- Ryuhei MatsudaRyuhei Matsudais a Japanese film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in Japanese films such as Taboo and Nana.-Early life:Matsuda was born on 9 May 1983 in Tokyo to Yusaku Matsuda, a Japanese actor, and Miyuki Matsuda , a Japanese actress. He has two siblings, one of whom is Japanese actor Shota...
- Kyoichi Kagenuma - Yui Miura- Yukie Mashiro
- Wako Andô- Mutsumi
- Miwako IchikawaMiwako Ichikawais a Japanese actress, sister of actress Mikako Ichikawa . She began in 1991 as a model, and released a single in 1998 and an album the following year. She debuted in acting in 2000 and immediately starred in the movies Another Heaven in 2000 and Konsento in 2001...
- Itsuko Kagenuma - Hanae Kan- Yuko Kikugawa
- Toshiyuki Kitami- Tetsuji Kikugawa
- Hatsune MatsushimaHatsune Matsushimais a Japanese gravure idol, actress and model affiliated with Harmony Promotion . She was born in Tokyo, Japan. Her real name is Noriko Matsushima, and goes by the nickname Hachu. She has starred in a number of TV dramas, films, and internet productions...
- Akiko - Ken Mitsuishi- Takio Kagenuma
- Shungiku Uchida- Kiriko
Production
The character of Lt. Keiko Kirishima was meant to return in the sequel, but Hitomi declined to reprise her role.Reception
The film received generally positive reviews.Twitchfilm reviewer Ard Fijn gave it a positive review saying: "Shinya Tsukamoto has made a very impressive film with some strong statements about loss and grief, and has wrapped this in a fantasy horror mystery thriller. People expecting a regular entry from one of those four genres are in for either a rude awakening or a pleasant surprise. For me "Nightmare Detective 2" was a pleasant surprise, but many people I spoke with after the viewing were less enamored by the convoluted story."
Japancinema reviewed the film positively, stating: "Nightmare Detective 2 can actually be viewed as a stand alone film, however, watching the original first is always advisable. One big hurdle for viewers to overcome is the fact that this film is jam-packed with ambiguity from start to finish but I urge you not to be driven to frustration. The first film had a visceral brutality to it, as this one on the other hand, can be described as a slow ride into silent darkness." and suggested that a third film would be welcolmed.
Rowthree.com gave the film 4 out of a possible 5 and also commented that he would embrace a third movie, "I for one truly hope that Tsukamoto and Matsuda will return one final time and wrap the story up in a trilogy. I am sure we will be left with as many questions as answers when everything is done but with a character so compelling and Tsukamoto’s unique vision into dreams I for one welcome the challenge of revisiting the Nightmare Detective again."