I've decided to watch "Cold Fish"because of its acclaimed director and the good critics. I was disappointed.
Though the movie was undeniably entertaining, it entertains because of its shock factor, and not exactly because it has a good plot.
This is the story about two owners of aquarium shops who meet for banal circumstances. The eldest of them seems to be a nice, generous man but ends up showing that he's a serial killer.
The movie explores themes like rape (very shocking scenes, which were a little unwarranted IMO), murder, domination, humiliation and authority. I could accept better the scenes filled with gore if gore there wasn't so gratuitous. Yet many of its bloody scenes are unnecessary to the plot, to the point of making the viewer bored of seeing so much blood in one movie, with no point at all.
Not only that, the movie is filled with plot holes. Many aspects of the movie remain unexplained at the end of it - when a certain character disappears and his family starts searching for him, the family quickly gives up searching and pressuring the last man who saw him to tell them where the character is. The police in the movie has completely unrealistic behavior as well - fortunately Japanese policemen are much more prepared in real life than they are depicted in this movie!
The ending, which is supposed to show the moral degradation of a man who used to be dignified, did not convince me. His character lacked development, and the final act to me was absurdly cliché and unjustified.
If you want to be shocked for a little with a good amount of bloody scenes, watch it. Now if you expect a good psychological drama and a well-written plot, you'll definitely not find it in this movie.
Though the movie was undeniably entertaining, it entertains because of its shock factor, and not exactly because it has a good plot.
This is the story about two owners of aquarium shops who meet for banal circumstances. The eldest of them seems to be a nice, generous man but ends up showing that he's a serial killer.
The movie explores themes like rape (very shocking scenes, which were a little unwarranted IMO), murder, domination, humiliation and authority. I could accept better the scenes filled with gore if gore there wasn't so gratuitous. Yet many of its bloody scenes are unnecessary to the plot, to the point of making the viewer bored of seeing so much blood in one movie, with no point at all.
Not only that, the movie is filled with plot holes. Many aspects of the movie remain unexplained at the end of it - when a certain character disappears and his family starts searching for him, the family quickly gives up searching and pressuring the last man who saw him to tell them where the character is. The police in the movie has completely unrealistic behavior as well - fortunately Japanese policemen are much more prepared in real life than they are depicted in this movie!
The ending, which is supposed to show the moral degradation of a man who used to be dignified, did not convince me. His character lacked development, and the final act to me was absurdly cliché and unjustified.
If you want to be shocked for a little with a good amount of bloody scenes, watch it. Now if you expect a good psychological drama and a well-written plot, you'll definitely not find it in this movie.