In the world of independent cinema, especially when it comes to horror or thriller, short features can often provide an interesting way of experimenting with an idea which might work in a different context, perhaps even a feature film, as we have seen many times before. In the case of directors Nozomi Tomaki and Kyosuke Koizumi, their predilection for the genre is evident in their short feature “Folie À Deux”, which receives its world premiere at this year's Japan Filmfest Hamburg seems to refer to the mental disorder of the same name. At the same time, it toys with the idea of the home invasion thriller, with a character's feeling of safety being undermined.
Folie À Deux is screening at Japan Filmfest Hamburg
After a day of work and shopping, a young woman (Nozomi Tomaki) returns to her tiny apartment to have a rest, order some dinner and engage in a bit of karaoke, while also enjoying the goods she purchased, for example, a pair of red high heels and a can of soda. The evening goes along as usual, with her food (curry) being delivered on time as well as her nap, which turns out longer than she anticipated. However, as she encounters a hidden camera in her bathroom, it does not take long for the killer (Kyosuke Koizumi) who has been hiding inside home to show his face and attack her.
As mentioned before, there is certainly no shame in experimenting with methods of storytelling and various types of film, to name but a few opportunities, within a short feature. Even though the home invasion sub-genre has been done many times in the last couple of years, the directors manage to establish the idea of the character enjoying the security of her home, until this feeling is dismantled in a surprising twist. Considering this sudden shift in tone, there may be viewers wanting to watch certain scenes one more time, since it may reveal a much more sinister context.
At the same time though, until the twist arrives, “Folie À Deux” is also quite a dull movie. Even with the added context, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, Tomaki's character coming home and essentially calming down and relaxing is quite mundane and strongly reminiscent of the found footage-genre.
In conclusion, “Folie À Deux” should be regarded an experiment in visual style and tone from the directors. While the twist in the story is certainly surprising, it does not take away that this is also quite a dull movie for the majority of its running time.
