Demon Pond [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Firstly, this is not a movie. Miike's Demon Pond is a sold-out stage production that has been recorded in front of a live audience. It's based on traditional Japanese folklore but has been adapted for the modern era. Yamazawa (Ryuhei Matsuda) the wandering fool goes in search of his friend Hagiwara who went missing without a trace a few years beforehand in search of tales from all the local provinces. Yamazawa eventually finds Hagiwara living near Demon Pond with his new wife Yuri The Shrine Maiden. Hagiwara explains to his friend that the original bell ringer Yatabei passed away leaving him the responsibility of striking the bell three times a day to remind The Dragon Goddess of her promise not the flood the villages. Ryuhei Matsuda is considered a huge star in his native Japan and I have never understood why? That is until I watched his performance in this enjoyable fable. He commands the stage, oozing charisma whilst controlling the audience and you the viewer with his effortless ability. Matsuda made me laugh so much that it completely changed my opinion of him forever.

Kenichi Endo is also on top form as the Monster Crab from the Scrub Bog as the Miike injected humour continues. After Crab has rescued Carp Fish from the local peasants they meet The Catfish Priest who has a letter from The Prince of Serpent Pond to deliver to the Princess of Demon Pond a.k.a. The Dragon Goddess. The letter contains an invitation expressing his love for her. The fable takes a more darker tone now as we learn about the frustrations of the Princess being held in captivity in order to protect the mortals for whom she despises and more ironically don't believe in her existence; believing her tale to be nothing more than an indulgence of the late Yatabei. Her counsel of fishes from the pond advise her not to break her promise or she will inevitably flood the earth and then face the wrath of the gods for destroying all the mortals. They advise her to be patient and wait for the mortals to construct their own demise which will allow her to roam freely without any consequences. Faith now hangs in the belfry as if by a vine and her desire to be free is like a bird slowly pecking away at it.

Miike's genre jumping exploits continue with this one bringing more proof that there is nothing this director can't do - a genuine modern day legend of cinema and now the stage.