In an era where sci-fi movies of any kind are big-budget productions filled with SFX, it is interesting to see what filmmakers can do on the genre without having a lot of money. Akiyoshi Koba‘s “Esper X Private Detective Agency – Searching For Good-Bye –” is one of those films.
Esper X Private Detective Agency – Searching For Good-Bye – is screening at Japan FilmFest Hamburg
In a setting were espers are found all over the place, Matsuda Masato, an esper himself with the unusual ability to be able to know the thoughts and memories of anyone that touches him, is working as a detective, although not particularly successfully. As the film begins, he is investigating another panty thief case, when a new client comes to his office in Asakusa. It is a woman wishing for him to bring back her younger sister, Megumi, who has fallen in with a group of delinquent espers, Sakakibara and Kashimabara.
As Matsuda continues his investigation, he meets Minamino, a detective investigating a crime involving the psychic group. At first, Matsuda and Minamino are at odds with each other, but as they investigate the same case, they deepen their bond. However, Minamino has a secret. At the same time, a murdering esper, gothic lolita Fujimura is also lurking in the streets of the area.
Akiyoshi Koba directs a rather weird film, since most of the espers here seem to have unusual powers, starting with the protagonist and continuing with anyone appearing in the film, including Fujima who can kill from afar with her hand. With the story also going towards unusual paths, with the twists coming up in unexpected moments creating a labyrinthic case, a notion that is heightened by the plethora of actors, the ‘weirdness’ becomes more intense. Lastly, this notion is cemented by the evidently low-budget nature of the movie, which becomes quite apparent in the SFX, although Koba actually plays with the concept, by inducing the scenes including it with a ‘goofy’ essence, in an approach that actually extends to the whole movies.
What definitely works for the movie though, are two aspects. The first one is that the majority of the characters are quite likable, a trait that owes a lot to the cast. Takuma Suehara as Matsuda highlights his goofiness, his resolve, his detective abilities and his kind heart convincingly, with him being the main source of this aspect. Saeki Daichi as Minamino looks somewhat obnoxious in the beginning but is revealed as something completely different later on. Even Mika Akizuki as Fujimura eventually shows a rather appealing and vulnerable side of her, cementing this element. That the majority of the cast are quite good looking adds even more in that regard.
The second one is the happy-go-lucky approach here, which manages to stay away from distasteful parody, even if mocking elements can be found here and there. In a cinema such as the Japanese, which frequently lacks tension, this approach seems like a nice alternative, with the aforementioned ‘goofiness’ actually working well in that regard.
At the same time though, there are moments that the movie goes too far, particularly in terms of script, while the lack of budget becomes painfully evident on occasion, especially in the action scenes.
As such, in the end, “Esper X Private Detective Agency – Searching For Good-Bye -” emerges as a mixed bag, since its narrative approach is interesting, but would probably suit a film not of the sci-fi/detective category better. Definitely deserves a watch for the characters and actors though.
