(REVIEW) Memoirs of a Murderer: Memorable Remake

 *Spoiler Alert: This article contains movie leaks that can be annoying for those of you who haven't watched it.

Story: 7 | Characterizations: 8 | Sound Effects/Scoring: 8 | Visuals: 7 | Final Rating: 7.5/10

Basically, a recycled film has the potential to fail, just like an adaptation . The fate that can be faced by a failed remake is to be severely criticized and deemed unnecessary. Fortunately, this one film is cool enough to impress you. Screened exclusively during the 2017 Japanese Film Festival, Memoirs of a Murderer should have a longer schedule in Indonesian cinemas.

Memoirs of a Murderer aka 22 Nenme no Kokuhaku: Watashi ga Satsujinhan desu is a remake of the 2012 Korean film Confessions of a Murder . In 1995, there were five serial murder cases in Japan. Wataru Makimura (Hideaki Ito) investigates the case and tries to catch the killer. However, instead of being caught, the assassin re-launched his attack and caused Wataru's superior to be killed.

Now, 22 years after the case has been closed by the police due to his expired status, the killer has made himself public with a published memoir entitled Watashi ga Satsujinhan desu ( I Am a Murderer ). The memoir, which was made from the killer's point of view, was written by Masato Sonezaki (Tatsuya Fujiwara) who instantly became an idol for girls because of his handsome face.

This remake can be said to be quite honest with the original film, although in the end it becomes more focused on discussing the psychological side of the victim and the killer. The film opens quite briefly and clearly. The events of 1995 were shot from the point of view of the media scene, plus the backdrop of the great Kobe earthquake that same year, makes this film feel alive. The opening is enough to put the mood up and you can't wait to know what happens next.

Obviously, what happened next was the event that was already told in the synopsis. However, for 117 minutes, the director, Yu Irie, won't let you follow this film casually. The suspense is built not with Mission Impossible -style action , but with the contradictions between the popular killer and the victims whose heartaches have not gone away. Moreover, the killer cannot be punished because the case is considered stale.

The visuals that tend to be dark and gloomy make this film more gloomy than the original film. The flashback of the 1995 events and the Kobe earthquake was made very natural from a media point of view. What Viki likes about the cinematography is the camera angle which is quite dynamic and not monotonous. Several times the media camera was used to show the tension needed in this film, at the same time, it also showed dark comedy .

This film is smart enough to include elements of social media as one of the causes of Sonezaki's popularity. This is actually an irony which shows the situation of "modern times " which is identical to things that are viral even though it has a bad impact on other people who experience it. The feelings of the victims are shown one by one without getting caught up in the drama in the right portion.

Fujiwara's acting is guaranteed to make you angry with the narcissistic killer! How not, Masato seems to really enjoy his popularity as a killer who scored success through his confession book. In fact, he went to one of his victims to apologize. He did it all for the sake of fame. Thanks to his capable acting, you will be invited to hate the narcissistic Masato until he finally turns to sympathy.

Ito has also succeeded in making you wonder, what is the mystery behind him. What is clear, if you pay close attention, you will realize that Irie-san has given quite a lot of hints from the start. One of them is when Makimura meets Doctor Akihiro Yamagata (Ryo Iwamatsu) whose wife became a victim 22 years ago. Also, when Sonezaki said that his popularity wasn't enough and he wanted a live interview on a television station. All the clues were prepared well for the sake of an annoying plot twist .

Of the entire series of stories that are well-crafted, unfortunately, Memoirs of a Murderer ends with an anticlimactic. Kenya Hirata and Irie-san have worked really well on the script for this film so that it becomes a remake that isn't boring. In fact, they intelligently explore the psychological side of the victim and the killer at the same time by adding PTSD ( post-traumatic stress disorder ) aka post-traumatic stress after experiencing something terrible in the main plot.

Movies with surprising plot twists should end when those plot twists are revealed. Unfortunately, this film actually becomes an anticlimactic because the solution given is not commensurate with the tension that has been given from the start. However, just make sure you watch this film until it's completely finished because there are still other surprises waiting for you.

Memoirs of a Murderer is a pretty fun crime thriller set in a very Japanese setting. This remake can also be quite successful at being itself by staying honest with the original film. Two thumbs up for the duet Fujiwara and Ito who have made this recycled film so much fun with their own style!