Bakudan (2025)

A clever film that will inevitably lose a lot in translation.

Bakudan does what it says on the tin. For a film where at least half of the runtime is spent in an interrogation room, it maintains interest and delivers very clever use of dialogue and wordplay.

Unfortunately, the clever dialogue and wordplay is both the film’s greatest strength domestically and weakness when translated. Many of the clues given throughout the film are subtle linguistic clues that rely heavily on wordplay in the most Japanese way possible. Without a broad understanding of Tokyo the way a Brit would understand London, even a successful translation would be hampered by the general knowledge requirement - without which it becomes harder to engage in the mystery and puzzle aspects of the plot.

However, looking past the cultural and linguistic hurdles, there is still merit to be found in watching this film. The cinematography is very well done, able to deliver the feeling of unease and discomfort the film aims for in appropriate moments. If you’re sat across the table from an unhinged individual that is your only lead for hours on end, you will begin to notice even the smaller details of their mannerisms and appearance. This is well portrayed through the cinematography, one brilliant detail of which was just the right level of bothersome to never truly go away once noticed.

The visual and practical effects are well done, and the believability of characters is also solidly grounded. Pacing wise, I have no complaints and think the pacing was near enough perfection. 2 hours and 17 minutes is a long time to keep me sat in one place, and yet, through the way the pace continued to develop throughout the film maintained the right amount of momentum and development to keep me curious.

The most biased comment I will make is that I think the ending was superbly well done. Very clever choices were made in how to go about the final quarter of the film and it also does that thing that Japanese films and media often do, in highlighting the overlooked humanity in these situations.

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