Siren (2006 film)
| Siren | |
|---|---|
Film poster | |
| Directed by | Yukihiko Tsutsumi |
| Screenplay by | Naoya Takayama[1] |
| Based on | Forbidden Siren 2 by Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Produced by | |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Satoru Karasawa[1] |
| Edited by | Nobuyuki Ito[1] |
| Music by | Kuniaki Haishima[1][2] |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Toho[1] |
Release date |
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Running time | 87 minutes[1] |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Box office | ¥790 million[3] |
Siren (Japanese: サイレン, Hepburn: Sairen), also known as Forbidden Siren in English-speaking territories,[1] is a 2006 Japanese supernatural psychological thriller mystery folk horror film directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi.[1] It is an adaptation and side story of the PlayStation 2 video game Forbidden Siren 2, part of the Siren survival horror series.[1][4] The film also includes elements from the first game in the series.[4] It stars Yui Ichikawa in her first leading role in a film,[1] alongside Leo Morimoto, Naoki Tanaka and Hiroshi Abe.[1] The plot follows a family that moves to a remote island with centuries' worth of folk history, where supernatural incidents start occurring. Koji Nozaki served as the film's VFX supervisor.[1] Siren was theatrically released by Toho on February 11, 2006, in Japan,[1][5] the same week of release as Forbidden Siren 2.[4] The film's theme song is "SIREN" by Takkyu Ishino.[1]
Premise
Writer Shinichi moves from Tokyo to remote Yamijama island with his anxious teenage daughter Yuki and sickly young son Hideo, in order to care for his son away from the chaos of the city. The island is dark and foreboding, and 29 years prior, all its inhabitants vanished without a trace. The mystery of their disappearance was never solved. Yamijima also has a history of folklore that stretches back centuries and a mysterious steel tower looming in its center. Shinichi's family takes up residence in an ancient, creepy house. After settling into their new home, a disturbed neighbor arrives to give them a breakdown of the local ordinances. Chief among them: Never go outside when the island's air raid siren, housed within the tower, begins to wail. Most of the other locals are equally odd, treating the newcomers with coldness. Only neighbor Satomi and the island's doctor, Yutaka Minamida, seem normal. Soon supernatural incidents occur, and Yuki discovers undead creatures stalking her at night. As the terror closes in and the locals, as well as her father, exhibit increasingly erratic behavior, Yuki attempts to unveil the secrets of the island and help her family escape.
Cast
- Yui Ichikawa as Yuki Amamoto
- Leo Morimoto as Shinichi Amamoto
- Naoki Tanaka as Yutaka Minamida
- Hiroshi Abe as Kei Tsuchida
- Naomi Nishida as Satomi
- Suzuki Matsuo as Azuma
- Kyusaku Shimada as Officer Yamanaka
- Jun Nishiyama as Hideo Amamoto
- Seiko Iwaido as Mysterious Girl in Red (credited as Mai Takahashi) – Iwaido also portrayed multiple characters in the video game.[4]
- Junichi Gamou as Masakiyo Jinguji
- Isao Yatsu
- Kohei Mashiba
Background
At the time of the film's production, the first game in the series had sold over 200,000 units in Japan, and more than 300,000 units in North America.[6] In spite of this, its sequel Forbidden Siren 2 was never released in North America.
The film adaptation was announced in English-language press on September 29, 2005, close to the end of production.[6] Yui Ichikawa, famous for her role as Chiharu in Ju-On: The Grudge and Ju-On: The Grudge 2, was cast in the lead role.[6] Ichikawa had previously collaborated with director Tsutsumi on H2: Kimi to Ita Hibi, a television drama adaptation of the H2 manga.
Release
Siren was theatrically released by Toho on February 11, 2006, in Japan.[1]
Toho released the film on Region 2 DVD on September 22, 2006, in both a standard[2][7] and two-disc special edition.[2][8]
Reception
Anthony Auzy wrote a generally positive review for Grimoireofhorror.com. He believed that the film looked good but could have better reproduced the game's atmosphere with a dirtier visual aesthetic. He also stated, "The movie still feels pretty faithful with many references to Japanese folklore and mana religion, the isolation of the countryside and their traditional customs, ancient artifacts, creepy revelations about reality and time [...]"[4] He ultimately recommended the film to fans of the game and J-horror fans in general.[4]
In a more negative review, Calvin McMillin wrote, "[...] the original video game certainly does have all the earmarks for a solid horror flick. Unfortunately, the filmmakers behind this sloppy movie adaptation aren’t able to muster anything remotely as scary as the source material."[9] He stated that, in spite of the film's attempts to replicate the games, down to including events that occurred in the original game, "Unfortunately [...] Forbidden Siren is so devoid of any palpable sense of tension or dread that the whole thing just feels incredibly corny and fake."[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Siren - Forbidden Siren (2006)". allcinema.net. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d e "Forbidden Siren". tohokingdom.com. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ "2006年 日本映画・外国映画 業界総決算 経営/製作/配給/興行のすべて". Kinema Junpo (in Japanese) (2007年（平成19年）2月下旬号). Kinema Junposha: 184. February 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f Auzy, Anthony (March 30, 2021). "Forbidden Siren (2006) Film Review – The Movie Adaptation of the Classic Horror Game". grimoireofhorror.com. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ "映画「サイレン」OFFICIAL SITE". www.siren-movie.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ a b c "Siren movie begins production - Adaptation of horror game will be hitting Japanese theaters alongside the PS2 sequel in February". gamespot.com. September 29, 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "Siren Standard Edition (Japan Version)". yesasia.com. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ "Siren Special Edition". cdjapan.co.jp. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ a b McMillin, Calvin (2008). "Forbidden Siren". lovehkfilm.com. Retrieved 12 February 2026.