Perfect Blue, the iconic 1997 film, has long been a cult classic and has since gained significant attention on TikTok and other social media platforms in the past few years. Moreover, it has also been alleged to have influenced notable films as Black Swan and Requiem for a Dream. With all that in mind, I’d say that it’s still super underrated.
Perfect Blue follows Mima Kirigoe, a pop idol who decides to leave her girl group to pursue a full-time career in acting. This transformation, especially relating to her public image, leads to a massive backlash amongst her fans. The film increasingly becomes more surreal, blurring the lines of reality and Mima’s psychosis. Is she innocent? Is she experiencing delusions? Or is she a murderer? This is a spoiler-free review, so I’ll leave it there, but trust me it gets WEIRD real quick!
This movie is honestly one of the better psychological thriller flicks I’ve seen. Even though I’d heard about how good this film was online, I wasn’t expecting it to quickly become one of the best movies I’ve seen this year; everything about it works. I’m not a huge fan of anime (please don’t come for me), so I was pleasantly surprised. The animation style perfectly captures the visceral and gory imagery, the soundtrack is terrific, and certain plot aspects are ambiguous to the viewer, which helped me immerse myself in Mima’s story.
The movie’s not lengthy (only around 80 minutes), and I never felt bored while watching it. If I had to describe this movie in one word, it would have to be “mind-bending.” The film, as it explores themes largely untouched by the field of Western animation, takes the viewer on an insane journey. For a movie from 1997, it has aged very well, with seamless animation and beautiful scenery. Of course, this movie gets pretty graphic sometimes, so if you’re sensitive to violence, stalking, blood, nudity, assault, and exploitation, maybe steer clear.
Altogether, I’d consider this movie to be an existential classic, a masterpiece. I wasn’t kidding when I said this movie works. The characters are fleshed out, and the themes are still relevant today, creating a compelling yet eerie vibe. If you’re in the mood for something different from the typical slasher film this October, consider giving Perfect Blue a chance!