Audition (1999)

Audition (オーディション, Ōdishon) is a 1999 Japanese psychological horror film directed by Takashi Miike and written by Daisuke Tengan, who adapted it from Ryu Murakami's 1997 novel of the same name. It follows a middle-aged widower (Ryo Ishibashi) who enlists the help of his film producer friend (Jun Kunimura) to stage fake auditions in order to meet a new girlfriend, only to find that the young woman he chooses (Eihi Shiina) has a dark past.

The film was originally a project of the Japanese company Omega Project, who wanted to make another horror film after the financial success of Ring (1998). The company purchased the rights to Murakami's book and sought Miike and Tengan for an adaptation. The cast and crew consisted primarily of previous Miike collaborators, with the exception of Shiina, who had worked as a model prior to making her acting debut in Audition. The film was shot in Tokyo over a three-week period.

Audition premiered with a few other Japanese horror films at the Vancouver International Film Festival, but received increased attention when screened at the 2000 Rotterdam International Film Festival, where it received the FIPRESCI Prize and the KNF Award. Following a theatrical release in Japan, the film continued to play at festivals and had theatrical releases in the United States and United Kingdom, followed by several home media releases. It grossed $131,296 at the U.S. box office.

The film was received positively by Western film critics, with many singling out the intense climactic scene and commenting on its stark contrast to the scenes that preceded it. The film has appeared on several lists of the best horror films ever made and has had an influence on other horror directors, including Eli Roth and the Soska sisters.