This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover was limited to 1,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.
Named after Yasujiro Ozu’s custom-made, tatami-level, crab-like tripod, Kani is a new home video label dedicated to leveling the gaze and furthering the understanding of Asian cinema in North America. Focused on genre-defying films, Kani aims to expand the canon, bolster up-and-coming filmmakers and reintroduce repertory classics in context. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!
Five years ago, Chihiro was raped by three men. The crime was captured on video, its images hanging over her life like a sword. Having left her rural hometown for the big city, she has managed to start anew. She works an office job and is about to marry her boyfriend when one of her assailants shows up at her doorstep, threatens blackmail and warns her: they are back, it is happening again. Now waking to a recurring nightmare, Chihiro is shocked into an unexpected set of actions action that will keep her abusers close, forever.
One of the most memorable Japanese exploitation films of the 2000s, Takashi Ishii’s Freeze Me places a heavier emphasis on stasis, anger, and the haunting effects of sexual assault, than is usually customary for the rape-revenge genre. Icy, shocking and carried by Harumi Inoue’s bold performance, the film also serves as a culmination of sorts for director Ishii’s formalism (A Night in Nude, Gonin) and his time at Nikkatsu. Shot on 16mm for a small budget on the studios’ sound stages, this is an bitter and confrontational work that isn’t easy to recommend to all, but that nonetheless lingers in the mind as one of its director’s most refined ‘women in peril’ films — inviting allegorical readings that complicates its own base function as provocation and emphasize the horrors of Japanese patriarchy.
directed by: Takashi Ishii
starring: Harumi Inoue, Shingo Tsurumi, Kazuki Kitamura, Shunsuke Matsuoka, Daisuke Iijima, Ito Yozaburo, Naoto Takenaka
2000 / 101 min / 1.85:1 / Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.75 / 5 from 132 reviews.
Freeze Me, a Japanese exploitation film, has received praise for its restoration, thrilling narrative, and excellent release. Customers highlight its haunting effects and bold performance, making it a standout in the genre.
Review topics: ["quality","shipping","looks","buy","packaging","film","movie","release","thriller","watch","restoration","kani","cinematography","rape","revenge","booklet","flick","gem","transfer","fan","moments","performances","label","entry","presentation","extras","shot","interviews","exploitation","ending"].
"Freeze Me is a dark and intense revenge thriller that blends psychological horror with raw emotional power. Its cold atmosphere and unflinching exploration of trauma create a deeply unsettling viewing experience. The film stands out as a bold, uncompromising piece of Japanese genre cinema with a haunting sense of style."
"I was a fan of FREEZE ME when it originally came out, but back then I was a desensitised 20-something guy, who only saw how cool (ha!) it was cinematically, not to mention a fan of the copious amounts of nudity within the film. Revisiting the film on this stunning new blu ray from Kani, my older more mature self was struck by how sad a tale this is, and the sheer amount of trauma this poor woman is carrying around and the horror when she is forced to re-live this trauma again before she finally snaps. . As usual from director Takashi Ishii, the story is dark, but the film is beautifully atmospheric."
"Interesting take on the rape revenge genre, with a lot of focus put on the trauma of the main character. Anyways, we have great release here with an amazing restoration."
"My favourite of all of Takashi Ishiis films and he has made many classics, in fact one of my favourite Japanese films full stop, so happy to finally have it on blu ray!"
"Takashi Ishii is a legend and this is one of his best, some pretty hair raising moments here. I missed the slipcover but anyways, the package is great and booklet has a nice essay too. Happy with this purchase"
"Disney should just let it go; they'll never produce an ice queen like this."
"Not what I expected, but still incredible. Probably too bleak for most people who prefer their exploitation/art cinema more fun."
"Moves at a deliberate, icy pace that emphasizes the enduring trauma of its protagonist rather than cheap exploitation, the film is anchored by a brave, intense lead performance from Harumi Inoue."
"Beautifully shot rape/revenge film by Takashi Ishii. I had only seen this before on a bootleg vhs with questionable subtitles. The packaging, booklet and HD transfer look amazing. Highly recommended for any Ishii or exploitation fan."
"Not a film that I would recommend to most, but a worthy watch for those who dare, and further evidence that Kani is one of the best boutique blu ray labels in the game right now for putting it out."
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