There are very few ratings on this and no reviews, which I find a bit odd.

It is certainly a unique movie, but then again, many Japanese movies of this genre are. The synopsis doesn't really capture the idea. Danda is not a very large part of the movie, as you'll notice by the fact that he isn't in the top cast.

The movie revolves largely around the mask maker, the groups who oppose each other, who Hiroku truly is, and the phenomenon itself. The wearing of masks extends into other schools and eventually becomes somewhat of a fad. Many people choose to be "reborn" into a new person by shedding their personality and using the mask to reveal their new one. This leads to unhinged behavior, including violence in some cases.

It definitely has the message of who a person becomes when they become anonymous. Much like how anonymity on the internet tends to allow for more freedom of speaking one's mind. There is a lot going on, but I don't feel like it is hard to take it all in. Certainly some elements could've used more screen time, but dragging the movie out probably would've been difficult. For an hour and a half watch, it is pretty good and keeps you fairly interested in figuring out what exactly is going on in terms of who is who, and what not. In some ways, it is predictable, but in other ways it can be a bit elusive and has a different ending than expected.

As for the cast, you'll certainly notice some fairly popular people on the Top Cast section. They've also worked together in other movies, so seem to do well on screen together.

Japanese cinema is celebrated for its refined minimalist dramas and avant-garde experimentation; it also introduced popular genres like jidaigeki (samurai epics), kaiju, and anime. Across both high art and mass entertainment, it often explores morality, impermanence, and the pressures of modern life.

Hidetoshi Nishijima and Tôko Miura in Drive My Car (2021)

The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The mystery genre features the investigation and solving of a puzzle, typically a crime or an enigmatic event. Mysteries are known for their suspenseful narratives, intricate plots, and the challenge they present to readers or viewers to piece together clues and solve the central mystery alongside the characters.

Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)

When a student by the name of Danda adopts a porcelain mask as a direct result of school bullying, he spurs on a large majority of fellow students to do the same thing.

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2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

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Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Female Prisoner Scorpion: Death Threat (1991)

Sha-Fei Ouyang, Yanyan Chen, Tina Chin-Fei, Ping Ha, Ivy Ling Po, Lisa Lu, Ping Wang, Pei-Pei Shu, Betty Ting Pei, Chin-Feng Wang, Karen Yeh, Ching Lee, Wu Chi Liu, and Lin Ching in The 14 Amazons (1972)

The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses (1991)

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