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Lesson of the Evil
悪の教典
2012 129 min Japan 18+
★6.7
Thriller, Horror
Director: Takashi Miike
Trailers
EN
Teaser
Description
Seiji Hasumi is a popular English teacher in a private high school. He is also a violent and sociopathic killer who concocts an extreme plan to deal with the rise of bullying and bad behavior among the student body.
Worldwide:
$26.17M
Starring
Takehiro Hira
Actor
Fumi Nikaidô
Actor
Shôta Sometani
Actor
Awards
4 nominations total
Key opinion
Takashi Miike’s *Lessons of Evil* is a genre-bending slasher that uses stylized, grotesque violence to critique societal structures within a Japanese school setting. While critics praise the film’s ambition and the compelling lead performance, the execution is often described as uneven due to pacing issues and a lack of thematic clarity.
| Acting | Hideaki Ito delivers a chilling and effective performance as a psychopathic teacher, balancing calm charm with ruthless calculation. | |
| Cinematography | The film utilizes darkly stylish cinematography and a melancholic score to effectively heighten the tension and grotesque nature of the violence. | |
| Pacing | The narrative structure is divisive, with the slow, TV-like pacing of the first two-thirds creating a sharp but jarring contrast to the frantic climax. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed as both a bold subversion of slasher tropes and a work lacking a clear, cohesive purpose or depth. | |
| Ending | The open-ended and ambiguous conclusion frustrates those seeking definitive resolutions while satisfying others who appreciate the film's refusal to provide clear answers. |