Audition (1999 film)

Audition
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Takashi Miike
Screenplay by	Daisuke Tengan
Based on	Audition by Ryu Murakami
Produced by	Satoshi Fukushima Akemi Suyama[1][2][3]
Starring	Ryo Ishibashi Eihi Shiina
Cinematography	Hideo Yamamoto
Edited by	Yasushi Shimamura
Music by	Kōji Endō
Production companies	Omega Project Creators Company Connection Film Face AFDF Korea Bodysonic
Release dates	October 2, 1999 (1999-10-02) (VIFF) March 3, 2000 (2000-03-03) (Japan)
Running time	113 minutes[4]
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese[3]
Box office	$131,296 (United States)[5]

Audition (オーディション, Ōdishon) is a 1999 Japanese horror film directed by Takashi Miike and written by Daisuke Tengan. An adaptation of Ryu Murakami's 1997 novel, it stars Ryo Ishibashi and Eihi Shiina. The film follows a middle-aged widower who enlists the help of his film producer friend to stage a fake audition in order to meet a new girlfriend, only to find that the dark past of the woman he chooses severely affects their relationship.

The film was originally a project of the Japanese company Omega Project, who wanted to make another horror film after the financial success of Ring (1998). The company purchased the rights to Murakami's book and sought Miike and Tengan for an adaptation. The cast and crew consisted primarily of previous Miike collaborators, with the exception of Shiina, who had worked as a model prior to her acting career. The film was shot throughout Tokyo in approximately three weeks.

Audition premiered with a few other Japanese horror films at the Vancouver International Film Festival, but received increased attention when screened at the 2000 Rotterdam International Film Festival, where it received the FIPRESCI Prize and the KNF Award. Following a theatrical release in Japan, the film continued to play at festivals and had theatrical releases in the United States and United Kingdom, followed by several home media releases.

The film was received positively by Western film critics, with many singling out the final torture scene and its stark contrast with the non-horrific scenes that preceded it. The film has appeared on several lists of the best horror films ever made, and has had an influence on other horror directors including Eli Roth and the Soska sisters.