The Happiness of the Katakuris Blu-ray Review

Arrow Video's Blu-ray release of "The Happiness of the Katakuris" adheres closely to its original aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen in an AVC encoded 1080p transfer. Despite the faithful representation, the film's inherent low-budget feel pervades throughout, primarily due to Miike's early use of digital cameras, which adds a visibly digital texture. This choice occasionally results in noticeable flaws such as blooming whites and uneven contrast. However, these technical limitations are balanced by vivid moments where the palette bursting with color enhances the film’s hallucinogenic sequences.

Examining specific elements, the claymation sequences stand out as the most compelling aspects of the video presentation. These segments feature finely observed texturing and layering, offering a level of detail that significantly surpasses the rest of the film's visual quality. Conversely, much of the remaining footage suffers from softness and washed-out colors, lending an anachronistic air as if it were shot decades earlier. Though Arrow's remastering efforts from the high-definition source provided by Shochiku Co. Ltd exhibit bouts of commendable detail and vibrancy, the overall visual experience remains hampered by the inherent shortcomings of the original material and Miike's experimental filming choices.

The uncompressed LPCM 2.0 audio track featured in the Blu-ray presentation of "The Happiness of the Katakuris" offers an authentic and solid listening experience, preserving the film's original Japanese audio. While it eschews a surround-driven approach in favor of a more straightforward delivery, this stereo track competently handles key aspects such as clear dialogue, sporadic effects, and decent musical elements, particularly during the animated segments. The overall soundscape may not be bombastic or surround-centric, but it faithfully represents the source material without compromising on quality.

Notably, the LPCM 2.0 track is surprisingly lively and boisterous, providing a wider sound stage than one might expect from a stereo mix. The fine fidelity captured in both spoken and sung moments adds to the listening pleasure, ensuring that the audio remains engaging throughout. Despite some previous DVD releases featuring repurposed surround tracks, this latest offering sticks to a more direct approach with optional English subtitles available for non-Japanese speakers. The musical components stand out as the highlight, delivering a vibrant and enjoyable performance while maintaining authentic character and integrity.

Arrow delivers a superb extras package for "The Happiness of the Katakuris" Blu-ray, ensuring an exhaustive exploration of the film. Starting with an insightful Audio Commentary by Takashi Miike, accompanied by actor Tokitoshi Shiota available in both Japanese with English subtitles and an English re-creation. The package features an engaging documentary, “The Making of the Katakuris,” loaded with behind-the-scenes footage and soundbites. The disc also includes extensive interviews with key cast members and Miike himself, offering a range of perspectives on the production. A special featurette, “Animating the Katakuris,” delves into the intricacies of the claymation sequences. To round things off, there’s a visual essay on Takashi Miike’s career and conventional promotions like trailers and TV spots. The package is complemented by Arrow’s signature booklet filled with essays, stills, cast and crew details, and technical data.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary by Takashi Miike: With actor Tokitoshi Shiota.
• Commentary by Tom Mes: In-depth discussion on the film.
• The Making of the Katakuris: Behind-the-scenes documentary.
• Interviews: With Takashi Miike (2015 and archive), Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Kiyoshiro Imawano & Shinji Takeda, Naomi Nishida, and Tetsuro Tanba.
• Animating the Katakuris: Featurette on claymation elements.
• Dogs, Pimps and Agitators: Visual essay by Tom Mes on Miike's career.
• Trailer
• TV Spot

"The Happiness of the Katakuris" is undeniably one of Takashi Miike's most inventive and audacious works. Seamlessly combining elements from seemingly disparate genres—such as musicals, horror, and comedy—it employs a mix of live-action and claymation to deliver a truly unique viewing experience. The film’s narrative revolves around a family running a bed-and-breakfast that faces an unusual predicament: each of their guests inexplicably dies. This bizarre plot serves as fertile ground for Miike to explore various filmic tropes, parody Western cinematic conventions, and indulge in his trademark flamboyant stylistic choices.

While the film's low-budget origins are apparent, especially in its trio of animated segments, these constraints do not significantly detract from its charm. Instead, they add a layer of whimsy and highlight Miike's resourcefulness. The claymation sequences, in particular, stand out as high points, offering both humor and visually arresting moments. However, there are instances where the pacing drags, and the narrative seems more like an elongated short film padded to feature length. The sporadic musical numbers, although well-executed thanks to the cast's musical talents, seem to function almost as relief points within the overarching chaos.

Overall, "The Happiness of the Katakuris" is a film that defies easy categorization and gleefully revels in its surreal absurdities. It might not cater to all tastes, especially those expecting Miike’s more horror-oriented fare. Nevertheless, its relentless inventiveness makes it a compelling watch. Whether it's through the hilarious claymation prologue, the absurd guest deaths, or the humorous sub-plot involving a faux British naval officer, the film is a testament to Miike’s eclectic directorial prowess and his ability to blend genres with unique flair.

Arrow Video's Blu-ray release of "The Happiness of the Katakuris" provides a definitive high-definition presentation of one of Takashi Miike's most unusual films. The video transfer is impressively detailed, showcasing strong color reproduction and crisp image clarity that highlights both the vibrant musical numbers and the unique Claymation sequences. Audio is equally robust, offering a well-balanced and immersive soundscape that enhances the film’s eclectic score and sound design.

The supplemental package included in this release is comprehensive and thoughtfully curated, featuring an array of extras that provide valuable context and insights into Miike's creative process. These include commentary tracks, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and interviews with the cast and crew, all of which paint a vivid picture of the production's chaotic ingenuity. Such an extensive collection of features not only enriches the viewing experience but also positions this Blu-ray as an essential addition to the collections of Miike aficionados and genre enthusiasts alike.

With a clear cult following devoted to this 'classic', even those who think they are familiar with the eclectic menu that the director's film history offers should probably test the waters before adding this to their Miike collection. Despite the questionable effectiveness of one of Miike's strangest endeavors, Arrow's Blu-ray release of the same is a very impressive package.

Arrow's Region B-locked UK Blu-ray release boasts strong video and audio, and the kind of packed-to-the-hilt selection of extras which we've come to expect from the meticulous company. Fans will certainly lap up everything on offer with this release; undoubtedly the best the niche title has ever seen.

You can buy The Happiness of Katakuris on Blu-ray here.