Cold Fish

A meek tropical fish shop owner, struggling with his rebellious daughter and a failing marriage, gets entangled with a charismatic but terrifying couple who run a larger, more successful pet store. As his life becomes increasingly complicated by their violent and manipulative schemes, he finds himself drawn into their dark world, blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator.

Cold Fish garnered significant attention for its extreme violence and dark humor, polarizing audiences but earning praise from many critics for its audacious filmmaking and unsettling exploration of human depravity. It is often cited as a prime example of Sion Sono's unique and transgressive style.

• Sion Sono's signature blend of extreme violence and dark, absurdist humor is on full display.
• The film is a shocking and often disturbing examination of ordinary people drawn into extreme circumstances.
• Praised for its bold direction and unforgettable, nightmarish characters.

Google audience: Audiences found the film to be extremely graphic and disturbing, with many appreciating its unique and shocking narrative. However, some viewers found the extreme violence and bleak tone to be overwhelming.

Nominated for the Golden Leopard at the 2010 Locarno International Film Festival.

The film is based on a series of real-life murders that occurred in Japan in the 1990s, known as the Saitama Serial Murders, where pet shop owners were involved in dismembering and disposing of bodies.