Rampo Noir

Rampo Noir (乱歩地獄, Ranpo jigoku) is a 2005 Japanese anthology film consisting of four segments based on works by Edogawa Ranpo.

Rampo Noir
Directed by	Akio Jissoji Atsushi Kaneko Hisayasu Satō Suguru Takeuchi
Written by	Atsushi Kaneko Akio Satsukawa Suguru Takeuchi Shirō Yumeno
Based on	Kagami jigoku, Mushi, Imomushi, and Kasei no unga by Edogawa Ranpo
Starring	Tadanobu Asano Mikako Ichikawa Yumi Yoshiyuki Ryuhei Matsuda Hiroki Narimiya Nao Ōmori Yūko Daike
Music by	Saiko Ai Kohei Aramaki Ryoji Ikeda Otomo Yoshihide
Release date	November 5, 2005 (2005-11-05)
Running time	134 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

Synopsis

Mars Canal

A story told without speaking. It tells the story of a naked man who wanders through a depressing and desolate landscape recalling memories of his former lover.

Mirror Hell

The story revolves around Ranpo's fictional detective Kogoro Akechi (played Tadanobu Asano), as he tries to find out why several women are being found dead with burnt faces and charred skulls. During his investigation he finds an odd hand mirror at the scene that starts unraveling the mystery.

Caterpillar

A war hero returns home with severe injuries. He is deaf with no limbs and only his eyesight remaining. His beautiful wife, tired of taking care of him, turns to torturing him for her amusement.

Crawling Bugs

An actress is returning home from a successful night on stage, until her limo driver decides that she should be coming home with him.

Reception

Variety wrote: "Sadism triumphs over atmosphere in Rampo Noir, a colorful but over-arty quartet of Japanese horror yarns."^[1]