Welcome to the last of this weeks trailer posts.
You can find part one here and part two here.
I am a bit slow to cover films from the Chicago Japanese Film Collective but did get started with SAYURI, Koji Shiraishi’s subversion of J-Horror tropes.
I’ve felt that this year has been flat for horror films. I thought that the first ten minutes of Longlegs was fantastic and then lost interest as the film lost the police procedural aspect and leaned into cult territory but gave no satisfying answers. I liked The First Omen‘s rich conspiracy theory and recreation of 70s-era Rome. Despite being hooked on the mystery of the story and the main character’s obsession with a serial killer, Red Rooms wasn’t as affecting as I thought it might be.
SAYURI made me feel a deluge of emotions, more so than any of the above titles because it was full of unexpected twists and leaned into each twist with aplomb. I’m being purposefully vague because I think it’s a lot of fun to go in with little knowledge of what’s going to happen in the same way that Barbarian (2022) did.
I’m continuing on with other films from the fest and was impressed by Leave in Summer and 99% Cloudy… Always. The festival ends on Sunday so there’s still time to view films!
What are some of the other films released?
Four Equilateral Triangle 
四等辺三角形 「Shi tohen sankakkei」
Release Date: November 22nd, 2024
Duration: 145 mins.
Director: Rei Hayakawa
Writer: Rei Hayakawa (Screenplay), Suzunosuke Ishizuki (Original Story)
Starring: Marin Tozuka, Mitsumasa Yoda, Mio Kiyota, Hidetaro Machida, Koharu,
This indie film is the debut of Rei Hayakawa and was made with the cooperation of Gosen City in Niigata Prefecture and Gosen Junior High School. It is the It is based on a short novel of the same title written by Suzunosuke Ishizuke, a friend of the director.
Synopsis: We are taken into the lives of 14-year-old pupils in a junior high school who are struggling to fit in and avoid bullies. Sota has a stutter and struggles to make friends and then there is Mitsuna, a shy girl who cannot assert herself and who simply conforms. One day, Mitsuna’s random attempt at live-streaming attracts a lot of attention and their worlds begin to change…
WEST. 10th Anniversary Live “W” Film edition 
Release Date: November 22nd, 2024
Duration: 145 mins.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: Daiki Shigeoka, Akito Kiriyama, Junta Nakama, Tomohiro Kamiyama, Ryusei Fujii, Takahiro Hamada, Nozomu Kotaki,
Website Twitter: @WEareWEST7
Synopsis: The idol group WEST celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024 and they teamed up with TV channel WOWOW for a live concert with the group performing their best-known songs. The theatrical version has everything that was broadcast, re-edited, plus two new songs, plus behind-the-scenes footage.
Kasaneru 
重ねる 「Kasaneru」
Release Date: November 23rd, 2024
Duration: 145 mins.
Director: Tetsuya Haijima
Writer: Tetsuya Haijima (Screenplay/Original Story)
Starring: Akiko Suda, Tamoto Soran, Miori Oda, Yuka Takekawa, Kaori Suekawa,
Website Twitter: @kasaneru_movie
This is an original story inspired by writer/director Tetsuya Haijima‘s own experience and shot in natural landscape of Gifu Prefecture with the subject of city dwellers finding a new way of life and mountain stream fishing being a part of it. The climax of the film is a fishing tournament featuring famous fishermen.
Synopsis: Ayumi Kato and Ittetsu Hirano have both arrived at a remote valley in Gifu Prefecture for their own reasons and meet by chance. They gradually develop a quiet love for each other while surrounded by nature.
Nezumikozo Jirokichi 
山中貞雄に捧げる漫画映画「鼠小僧次郎吉」 「Yamanaka Sadao ni Sasageru Manga Eiga “Nezumikozo Jirokichi”)」
Release Date: November 23rd, 2024
Duration: 23 mins.
Director: Rintaro
Writer: Rintaro, Sadao Yamanaka (Screenplay/Original Story)
Starring: Mami Koyama,
This one played at Japan Cuts, which was great for the synopsis and info:
This is a Japanese-French co-production helmed by anime director Rintaro (Metropolis, X/1999, Galaxy Express 999). It is his first new work in over a decade and is based on his interest in Sadao Yamanaka (Humanity and Paper Balloons, Priest of Darkness), a legendary director from the early days of Japanese cinema, but one who died before World War II. While most of his films have been lost to time, his scripts remain, and Nezumikozo Jirokichi recreates one of them.
There are other big names in anime involved in the making of this film including Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira, Steam Boy), Taro Maki (Pluto, Millennium Actress) and Masao Maruyama (Ninja Scroll, Perfect Blue).
Synopsis: Jirokichi is a Robin Hoon-like monk who steals wealth from the rich of Edo-era Tokyo and distributes it to the poor and he is being pursued by both the authorities and criminals. It is this film, a melancholy drama, that director Sadao Yamanaka dreams of making.