Film Review: Koi Ni Itaru Yamai (2025) – A Psychological Mystery About Identity and Blue Morpho

 

Koi Ni Itaru Yamai (Alternate Title: No Matter What, I Love You) | 2025 | 1h 49m
Genre: Psychological Mystery / Psychological Thriller / Romance / Teen Drama / Suspense | Country: Japan
Director: Ryūichi Hiroki | Writer: Yûki Shasendô
Starring: Kotaro Daigo, Ayaka Imoto, Aoba Kawai
IMDb: 4.8
My Rating: 7/10

Miyamine grows close to Kei, the most popular girl at his new school, but their friendship sparks resentment among the other students. As a series of deaths linked to the Blue Morpho game begins to unfold at their school, Miyamine gradually starts to suspect Kei.

Warning:

Violence, strong language, and suicide.

 
Synopsis

Miyamine has a quiet personality, making it difficult for him to adjust to his new school. Fortunately, Kei, the school's most popular student, helps him fit in by pretending to be an old friend. Unfortunately, their growing closeness only makes several students dislike them, especially Akira.

Not long after, Akira is found dead after falling from his apartment. At first, the death is believed to be a suicide. However, Miyamine begins to suspect Kei after remembering the incident where Akira locked Kei inside the school gym before his death.

Miyamine's suspicions grow even stronger when Kei tells him about Blue Morpho, a game that promises its players the chance to become someone more meaningful through a series of challenges. From that moment on, mysterious deaths continue to occur at their school.

Is Kei really the mastermind behind the game?

 

Review

Looking perfect doesn't mean being flawless. More often than not, behind perfection lies pain that's never shown to anyone else.

That's exactly the impression Kei leaves in Koi Ni Itaru Yamai (2025), an adaptation of Yuki Shasendo's novel of the same name. What initially feels like an ordinary coming-of-age story gradually transforms into a psychological thriller filled with mystery that lingers long after it ends.

The film presents an interesting premise that's highly relatable to young people struggling to find their identity. That vulnerability becomes an easy target for manipulation. The characters are introduced well, with enough background to help viewers understand each person's role from the very beginning.

Miyamine is portrayed as quiet and socially awkward, completely opposite to Kei, who effortlessly becomes the center of attention thanks to her charm. Despite their contrasting personalities, their interactions naturally complement each other's emotional emptiness. The supporting characters also serve meaningful purposes instead of simply filling the background.

The relationships between the characters develop naturally and are easy to follow. Small conflicts are introduced first, creating a solid foundation before the story reaches its main conflict. As a result, the pacing feels smooth and never rushed.

The story reaches its turning point when Akira's body is discovered, opening the door to the film's true mystery. Various puzzles begin to emerge through deliberately ambiguous clues, constantly encouraging the audience to question what's really happening. At the same time, the characters' emotional struggles become increasingly compelling, especially as they're forced to confront identity, trust, and doubt toward the people closest to them.

The ending is handled fairly well, though it still leaves a sense of dissatisfaction. Not because the conclusion is bad, but because several important mysteries remain unanswered. Kei's true identity, the police officer's statement calling Kei a monster, and the connection between Kei and Blue Morpho all leave plenty of room for interpretation.

The performances feel natural and fit the story well, although none of the actors truly stand out. Technically, the camera work, visual details, and color palette successfully support the mysterious atmosphere without becoming excessive.

Unfortunately, several parts of the story could have been explored further. Blue Morpho, one of the film's most important elements, is never fully explained, including how it actually works or how it affects its players. Likewise, the emotional and psychological conditions of several characters have great potential to deepen the narrative but aren't explored enough. With such a strong mystery at its core, the film could have been even more impressive if these aspects had been developed further.

 
Most Memorable Scene

Everyone around Kei sees her as the perfect person. Yet behind all the praise, Kei feels that she's nowhere near as good as the expectations placed upon her. That's why she asks Miyamine to always be honest and tell her whenever she makes a mistake, unlike everyone else who only continues to admire her.

Having someone admire us isn't a bad thing. But when admiration turns into unrealistic expectations, we begin to feel pressured to appear perfect all the time. The truth is, everyone has flaws and everyone makes mistakes. That's why having someone who's willing to be honest and accept us for who we truly are is often far more valuable than a thousand compliments that only protect an image.

 
Memorable Quote

"I don't regret that choice."

 

Ending:

Sad Ending

 

Recommendation:

Worth to Watch

(Aluna Uwie)