Hana-Dama: Phantom

A claustrophobic, dreamlike descent into collective mania, where a dying cinema becomes a pressure cooker of unruly desire and creeping dread.

Directed by

Hisayasu Satō

Genres

Drama, Thriller, Horror

Starring

Shima Onishi, Iori, Yohta Kawase

Overview

“Hana-Dama”—a flower in the wasteland. This flower is a symbol of earthly desires and every human is overwhelmed by desire and their rationality collapses wherever the flower is in bloom. And even today, the “Hana-Dama” continues to blossom profusely somewhere in the world. The story is set in a film theater, the facility keeps on closing one after another during recent years. The last day has come to a film theater which has been maintained by a film-loving owner, the staff, and their unique audiences. The symbol of human desire, “Hana-Dama,” blossoms at the theater and instigates people’s erratic behavior. Upon facing its closure, tremendous chaos that will be noted in the history of Japanese film takes place within this film theater.

How it feels

Dark, eerie, tense and absurd. Slow-burning and demanding.

About

Obsession, madness, isolation, art

Content

Strong violence and sexual content. Mild gore and language.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)