After learning that there has been a large sum of money deposited in one of the lockers at the office where she cleans, Mari convinces her boyfriend, Yasuo, to help her steal the money. However, they are unaware that they are being followed by Kawada, a man desperate for money after gambling away a large sum of his employer's. Caught between the three thieves is office manager Katsuhiro, his coworker/mistress, and his daughter, who struggle to survive against both sexual and violent threats from the feuding thieves. Adding to the chaos, an earthquake shakes the city, trapping everyone inside the office.
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Boasting a fast-paced atmosphere throughout, “Night of the Earthquake” relies upon and succeeds in a couple of notable ways. Firstly, the performances, particularly of Mariko Nata as Mari, are very vibrant and enjoyable in an over the top manner. Nata brings a lot of energy and chaotic charm to her role, and the rest of the cast works well to match that pace. The film is well complimented by a frantic, jazz-infused soundtrack, which is well implemented throughout, as Goto was also able to maintain the same level of activity and interest throughout its short run time. Nothing seems padded or forced, making it a great example of how to create a successful and interesting product within a modest length.
Unfortunately, the movie seems to make some sacrifices in order to keep and create atmosphere. Most notably, the story is underwhelming, feels forced and contains some questionable logic. Even the earthquake, which is mentioned in the title, seems like an unnecessary plot device. The characters' actions do a much better job of defining who they are than at an attempt at a story. The cinematography suffers in a similar way. The film's aesthetics are dull and unappealing due to an ugly main set and an unconvincing earthquake looming in the background, while the actions of the actors are a greater and more noteworthy focal point.
“Night of the Earthquake” does fall short of Daisuke Goto's other films, with an underdeveloped story being it's greatest detractor. The film just does not measure up to his, understandably, most popular production, “A Lonely Cow Weeps at Dawn”. Sadly, the overall impression is not going to be one that holds much weight with fans of Pink film.
However, the pacing, acting, and score inject a lot of fun and unique atmosphere into the film, which saves it from falling under its noticeable shortcoming, transforming it into an enjoyable experience.
