“SADAKO VS. KAYAKO” | Hawai‘i Premiere | Japan | Japanese w/English subtitles | 98 min.
Written and directed by Koji Shiraishi.
Two ghosts — Sadako (“The Ring”) and Kayako (“The Grudge”) — who each spawned a dynasty of films, are pitted against each other in the most fun J-horror in years. When Natsumi and Yuri find an old VHS tape, they unwittingly release evil Sadako back into the world. Meanwhile, high school student Suzuka is drawn to an abandoned house with an infamous curse. To save the girls, two psychics think a meeting of the two ghosts will help.
Screenings: Nov. 4, 9 p.m. | Nov. 12, 8:45 p.m. | Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. (Regal Kapolei) | Nov. 19, 8:15 p.m. (Waimea Theater)
“HENTAI KAMEN 2: THE ABNORMAL CRISIS” | Hawai‘i Premiere | Japan | Japanese w/English subtitles | 118 min.
Written by Keishu Ando (manga) and Yuichi Fukuda. Directed by Yuichi Fukuda.
“Hentai Kamen” is back, and this time he’s having a very abnormal crisis. Just when the beloved Hentai Kamen thought he had defeated his arch-nemesis, a new enemy appears, and he’s stealing all of the panties in Japan!
Now in college, Kyosuke had hoped to leave his Hentai Kamen days behind, instead spending his days with his girlfriend Aiko. But out of the blue, a new super-villain appears, stealing girls’ panties from all across Japan. Since Kyosuke needs panties to activate his super powers, he suspects that he may be the target of this new criminal. Is his nemesis Tamao Ogane back?
When Aiko is kidnapped by the evildoers, Kyosuke must go to extreme lengths and endure special pervert training to get her back. But how will he activate his pervert powers without any panties?
Screenings: Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m. | Nov. 11, 8:30 p.m.
“CREEPY” | Hawai‘i Premiere | Japan | Japanese w/English subtitles | 130 min.
Written by Chihiro Ikeda and Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
“Creepy,” the latest film from award-winning maestro Kiyoshi Kurosawa (“Cure,” “Tökyö Sonata,” “Journey to the Shore”), harkens back to his thriller genre roots.
After a fatal incident on the police force, criminal psychologist Takakura (Hidetoshi Nishijima, “Tony Takitani,” “The Wind Rises”) retires to a quiet life as a university professor. But his suspicious pique when he and his wife begin having strange encounters with their neighbor (Teruyuki Kagawa, “20th Century Boys,” “Rurouni Kenshin”). At the same time, an old colleague from the force asks Takakura for help in investigating a series of missing persons cases. As they begin uncovering clues, Takakura becomes increasingly fearful that there may be a connection between his creepy neighbor and their case.
“Creepy” is based on a novel inspired by several real life incidences in Japan.
Screenings: Nov. 7, 8:30 p.m. | Nov. 13, 7:15 p.m.
“WET WOMAN IN THE WIND (KAZE NI NURETA ONNA)” | U.S. Premiere | Japan | Japanese w/English subtitles | 77 min. | For Mature Audiences
Written and directed by Akihiko Shiota.
In celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Japanese “Roman Porno” genre, film company Nikkatsu has released five new titles in the style of the famed 1970s films under the “Roman Porno Reboot” series. “Wet Woman in the Wind” is Akihiko Shiota’s ode to Roman Porno master Tatsumi Kumashiro and tells the tale of a wild woman who likes to use her sexuality to toy with men and a young man who just wants to be left alone.
Screenings: Nov. 9, 7:45 p.m. | Nov. 10, 8 p.m. (Nov. 10 screening of “Wet Woman in the Wind” will play as a double feature with Roman Porno classic “Lovers are Wet.”)
“LOVERS ARE WET” | Special Presentation | Japan | Japanese w/English subtitles | 77 min. | For Mature Audiences
Written by Koji Kamoda and Tatsumi Kumashiro. Directed by Tatsumi Kumashiro.
In celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Japanese “Roman Porno” genre, film company Nikkatsu has released five new titles in the style of the famed 1970s films called the “Roman Porno Reboot” series. As part of HIFF’s celebration of these new releases, HIFF presents “Lovers are Wet,” the classic 1970s film by Roman Porno master Tatsumi Kumashiro.
Katsu, a young man who drifted around Japan for five years, returns to his coastal village hometown, hoping to restart his life. The villagers recognize him, but he refuses to admit to his past identity and sets about disrupting social conventions and engaging in sexual and violent affronts to decorum while beginning an affair with the local cinema owner. “Lovers are Wet” is one of the most famous films of the Roman Porno genre, and HIFF is honored to present this classic title.
Screenings: Nov. 9, 9:15 p.m. | Nov. 10, 9:30 p.m.
