The Long Take

Exte (Hair Extensions) [Dir. Shion Shono, 2007]

I took this film on the pretence that it would be a little silly but ultimately fun to watch. I found that the film was way more complex than I anticipated. It begins with mystery then moves on to a happy bike ride through a small Japanese town, reminiscent of the opening of a Disney movie. The characters all have something special about them. From the absolutely crazy hair-obsessed mortician to the abusive semi-prostitute single mother to the quirky sidekick police officer, the film never fails to keep the audience interested. It is clear that director Shion Sono (Suicide Club) has a flair for creative, fresh characters. Moreover, the film manages to change drastically in terms of mood. At one moment we are laughing and smiling, and the next moment the tension in the air is as thick as the ever-growing hair of the film’s title.

In some ways the film is a parody of J-horror’s obsession with evil girl’s with long black hair, yet it manages to hold its own regardless of this reference. I can not quite describe the exact emotion I felt after seeing this film but I was certainly entertained. Not entertained as in seeing a dog walk on its hind legs, but rather seeing a pigeon fly headfirst into a glass window; one is unsure whether to laugh or be horrified.