Three apparently unrelated suicides occur on the same day in Tokyo. One involves a young athlete, one a groom at his wedding reception, and the third an elderly man celebrating his wife's birthday. A middle aged detective investigating one of the cases begins to suspect a connection between the three when he discovers that each person mentioned a "green monkey" before they died. With the help of a young psychiatrist he formulates the theory that hypnosis is somehow involved. In the mean time other bizarre "suicides" are reported and the mystery intensifies. Who will be next? What is the truth? Can more deaths be prevented?
Direction
Ochiai builds dread through clinical detachment, not jump scares.
Acting
Miho Kanno's psychiatrist walks the line between skeptic and believer.
Director
Masayuki Ochiai
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during Japan's late-90s hypnosis panic, when TV variety shows popularized stage hypnosis — the film weaponizes that cultural anxiety.
The green monkey imagery was inspired by actual Rorschach test responses; Ochiai wanted something that felt both childish and deeply wrong.
JP
