An enchantingly cryptic, ethereally photographed slice of somber surrealism that should definitely appeal to fans of David Lynch and Luis Buñuel.
83
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
The most spellbinding aspect of Bright Future is that the surrealism sustains its own squiddish logic, concluding with one of the most breathtaking film finales of the year.
Casts its spell by drawing out the horror of everyday existence bit by bit, and then tossing in some otherworldly weirdness that makes the hair on the back of your neck try to run for cover.
75
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Boston GlobeTy Burr
The movie has a curious and cumulative power.
70
Village VoiceMichael Atkinson
Village VoiceMichael Atkinson
Kurosawa strolls through his narrative with relaxed confidence, suggesting apocalyptic significances without assuring us that he has anything particular on his mind.
70
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
More high - but strangely touching - weirdness from acclaimed Japanese auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
67
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
A slow, sometimes difficult film, Bright Future offers little immediate payoff to the patient viewer.
63
New York Daily NewsRobert Dominguez
New York Daily NewsRobert Dominguez
Bright is pretty to look at, but it's a slow-moving, meandering work that isn't as complex or mysterious as it appears.
50
Chicago Reader
Chicago Reader
An alternately comic and macabre portrait of a deranged friendship.
40
VarietyDavid Rooney
VarietyDavid Rooney
Occupies wavelengths too remote to be tuned in by audiences other than diehard Asian esoterica enthusiasts.