Noriko's Dinner Table

The sequel to Suicide Club, Sion Sono's J-horror hit, this film follows young Noriko from her pastoral home to the ravages of modern Tokyo. Noriko's father, a local newsman, refuses to let her go to the big city, worried that she, like her cousins, will come back pregnant. But instead of fearing babies, he should have warned her about—Suicide Club! Noriko hops a train for Tokyo and joins the cult, which supports itself with a sideline in "family rentals," apparently a growth industry. The cult's leader Kumiko serves as madame, sending Noriko off to play wayward daughter to local johns who want quality father-daughter time instead of sex. Naturally, when Noriko's sister shows up, it proves a bit difficult to play fake siblings for clients—let alone when (twist!) their real father pays them to act like daughters. Hmm. Instead of sticking to horror, Sono has married his lo-fi style to an artsy, indie plot. There's not nearly enough blood to keep fans of Suicide Club, or the rest of us, happy.