Evil Does Not Exist could easily be viewed as a slighter work by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi compared to the bulkier projects he’s conceived of in the past, but his latest movie still runs circles around much of what has come out in 2024. A story with real themes tackled in a way that’s daring and singular. Hamaguchi is a one-of-one director, and Evil Does Not Exist is a one-of-one film.
Evil Does Not Exist Review
Evil Does Not Exist may fall in line with similar foreign-language fables tackling themes of disrupting ecosystems and class for economic gains, but when handled with such care by acclaimed director Ryūsuke Hamaguchi (Oscar nominated for 2021’s Drive My Car) and primed with his usual idiosyncratic precision, the movie defies conventions and ventures into a more ethereal realm, backed by one of the most harrowing final scenes you’ll see in 2024.
And it’s an interesting follow up for Hamaguchi after his breakout 2021 year, where his back-to-back releases of Drive My Car and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy made him one of the premiere international directors working today. And while Evil Does Not Exist may seem like a slight detour for the director – the runtime being much shorter than his usual works, and the story being much leaner – the emotional presence is there nonetheless. He and cinematographer Yoshio Kitagawa use the camera in a vibrant, emotive way that keeps a viewer engaged while still lingering on specific shots that inevitably make up the entire effort.
Because Evil Does Not Exist goes to great lengths to capture the small Mizubiki Village (near the city of Tokyo) in a beautiful, dreamlike manner. This movie loves the world, as well as the peaceful nature that surrounds the inhabitants of this small village. It tracks the visitors and natives as they reckon with the ill-conceived “glamping” (glamorous camping) tourist destination that could cause great harm to the water supply they rely on.
At the center of the story is Takumi (Hitoshi Omika), the village’s “odd jobs” guy who serves as the one that can both speak to and for the people he represents; a middle man between the outsiders and the townspeople. His daughter Hana (Ryo Nishikawa), while quiet, is equally observant and takes after her father well. Their mundane existence is one they enjoy, as well as feel a sense of pride in.
That is until two spokespeople for a talent agency show up to hear the concerns of the locals for the new tourist site. Takahashi (Ryuji Kosaka) and Mayuzumi (Ayaka Shibutani) are polite to the crowd, but never give in to the idea of course-correcting and not following through with the construction plans. Instead, Takahashi becomes consumed with the plan to become the camp’s caretaker, and learns what he can from Takumi, like gathering water and splitting wood.
That’s generally the layout of the story for Evil Does Not Exist, which takes a direct approach at the material and uses beautifully constructed sequences and shots to win you over. The lush design and specific camera placement is some of the best this year and a remarkable continuation of his work in Drive My Car.
And the ending to Evil Does Not Exist is one of the more daring and unique endings I’ve seen this decade, combining distinct and heart-pounding visuals with the sort of angry, dystopian approach that suggests we’re no better than the world we live in, and that our economically driven approach to colonizing nature always ends in violence, no matter how many times the cycle repeats itself.
Evil Does Not Exist could easily be viewed as a slighter work by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi compared to the bulkier projects he’s conceived of in the past, but his latest movie still runs circles around much of what has come out this year. A story with real themes tackled in a way that’s daring and singular. Hamaguchi is a one-of-one director, and Evil Does Not Exist is a one-of-one film.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Drama
Evil Does Not Exist (2024) is available to watch on VOD
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