Himizu
Olive Films | Release Date: January 18, 2013 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
66
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
5
Negative:
0
Watch Now

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Slant MagazineKenji FujishimaMar 11, 2014
Sion Sono's film is a vision of coming of age as trial by fire, a thunderous encapsulation of that period of transition in which adolescents try to discover themselves: their passions, their purpose, their sense of morality. Read full review
80
The New York TimesMiriam BaleMar 13, 2014
Mr. Sono uses sound, a low, grumbling noise like an earthquake, to convey this chaos. He also gives the film a harrowing cacophony and a sense of trauma with sound effects, including subtle echoes. Read full review
80
The GuardianMike McCahillMar 11, 2014
Sono retains his go-for-the-throat approach, but the violence here somehow connects with the brutal economic conditions, and he fosters very tender, affecting performances from Shôta Sometani and Fumi Nikaidô as his crushed young lovers. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterDeborah YoungMar 13, 2014
Young leads Shota Sometani and Fumi Nikaidou – both experienced film actors – grow in stature as the film progresses to the achingly real final scene, where they are extraordinarily intense and effective. Read full review
60
VarietyBoyd van HoeijMar 13, 2014
Because Sono tries to set the manga’s storyline, with its stylized violence, in the very real, post-earthquake/tsunami disaster area, Himizu struggles to find a coherent tone. Read full review
60
EmpireDavid ParkinsonMar 11, 2014
Over-the-top but blackly funny along the way. Read full review
60
Time Out LondonTom HuddlestonMar 11, 2014
Much of the film's impact stems from a pair of remarkable lead performances. Read full review
60
Total FilmJamie RussellMar 11, 2014
It offers a surreal slant on post-Fukushima Japan where aggression lurks in every scene - even the romantic ones between high-schooler Yuichi (Shôta Sometani) and his stalker classmate, Keiko (Fumi Nikaidô). Read full review
50
Village VoicePete Vonder HaarMar 11, 2014
Intermittently refreshing yet thoroughly unpleasant. Read full review
More From This Movie

66 Critic Reviews

6.8 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 63 Let Him Go
2 60 Wonder Woman 1984
3 58 Come Play
4 56 The Croods: A New Age
5 44 Monster Hunter
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Instant Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
Best of 2018: Film Awards and Nominations
SEE ALL