Italian
A chilling night in the mountains: ‘Confession’ by Nobuhiro Yamashita
A master of suspense returns
Japanese director Nobuhiro Yamashita, known for his work on “Linda Linda Linda,” made a significant impact at Montreal’s Fantasia Fest this year with three distinct features. Among them were the anime “Ghost Cat Anzu” and the high school seriocomedy “Swimming in a Sand Pool.” However, the standout might just be the shortest and seemingly simplest of the trio: “Confession.” This film, an adaptation of a manga, takes viewers on a tense journey as two mountaineers, trapped by a blizzard, spend a harrowing night in a cabin. The twist? One of them has just confessed to murder.
A confined thriller with expansive tension
“Confession” is a single-setting thriller that masterfully extracts maximum suspense from a premise that might initially seem too limited for a feature-length film. This cat-and-mouse game, set in a remote cabin, is a sharply honed, pleasurably nasty thriller that could easily attract interest for remakes overseas.
The story unfolds
The film begins with a brief prologue: Sayuri, played by Nao Honda in flashbacks, disappeared during a college hiking-club trek, her body never found. She was part of an inseparable trio with her ex-boyfriend Asai (Toma Ikuta) and Korean exchange student Jiyong (Yang Ik-june). Sixteen years later, Asai and Jiyong continue to climb the same mountain annually in her memory.
This year, their tribute takes a dire turn. Jiyong is injured in an apparent fall amidst freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall. Believing they are far from shelter, Jiyong, in a moment of despair, confesses to Asai that he strangled Sayuri out of frustrated desire and jealousy, leaving her body in the wilderness.
The cabin of confessions
Moments after this shocking revelation, the mountaineers discover that the cabin they sought is just around the corner. Asai manages to get his wounded friend inside and light a fire. But as the warmth returns, so does the tension. Jiyong begins to regret his candor, and Asai fears for his life, knowing the incriminating secret he now holds.
The cabin becomes a battleground of mutual mistrust and escalating violence. The struggle is further complicated by a hallucinatory quality, with Jiyong disappearing and reappearing with jump-scare suddenness. This leaves both Asai and the audience questioning what is real, supernatural, or a paranoid delusion.
A setting that amplifies the suspense
While one might question the spaciousness of a lodge at such a frigid elevation, the interior provides ample opportunity for spooky atmospherics. The characters engage in unpleasant hide-and-seek games that turn into frantic attempts at inflicting or evading grievous bodily harm.
The two actors, Toma Ikuta and Yang Ik-june, sustain separate journeys into hysteria, stylized enough that the audience isn’t much bothered by the niceties of credible psychology or action. “Confession” maintains a knowing self-consciousness about itself as a pulp contrivance, even as it succeeds in milking the situation for plentiful tension, jolts, and black humor.
Cinematic craftsmanship
Elevating this grisly tale are the contributions of D.P. Shinya Kimura, whose elegantly moody widescreen compositions add depth to the confined setting. Additionally, Masa Takumi’s unexpectedly big symphonic score surges between long stretches of queasy quiet, enhancing the film’s tension.
Final thoughts
“Confession” is a taut, suspenseful thriller that showcases Nobuhiro Yamashita’s ability to create intense, character-driven narratives. The film’s confined setting and limited cast are used to maximum effect, resulting in a gripping and unsettling experience. For those interested in a master class in suspense, “Confession” is a must-watch.
For more information and to watch the trailer, visit Confession.
This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis and personal reflections for cinema enthusiasts, highlighting the film’s strengths and the director’s craftsmanship. The inclusion of direct links to trailers and information pages ensures readers have immediate access to additional details and multimedia resources.
