Usogui
| 2022 | 2h
Genre:
Thriller / Live-Action | Country: Japan
Director:
Hideo Nakata | Writer: Toshio Sako
Cast:
Ryûsei Yokohama, Yûki Kedôin, Kanata Hongô
IMDB:
5.6
My
Rate: 7/10
Baku, a.k.a. Usogui, who can see through lies, fights against several gamblers to become the top person in Club Kakerou in order to achieve world peace — even if it means risking his life.
Warning:
Contains violence, alcohol, and strong language.
Synopsis:
Baku loses his match against the leader of Club Kakerou and ends up being
exiled. The appearance of Ikki Sadakuni brings chaos to the club. Hearing the
news, Baku decides to return and try to destroy Kakerou once again.
Along
the way, Baku accidentally meets Koji. After winning a huge amount of money
from a casino owned by one of the Kakerou members, Koji wants to keep staying
with Baku. However, the life-threatening events they face make Koji start to
hesitate.
Baku
manages to get a Kakerou membership card and finally fulfills his dream of
fighting Sadakuni — a simple battle that also puts his life on the line.
Sadakuni is known as an opponent who has never lost.
Will
Baku be able to defeat Sadakuni?
Review:
In a world where lies can become currency and life is the stake, who can still
believe in the truth? Usogui serves as a mirror to the darkest side of
humanity — greed, cunning, and the desire to win at any cost. This film takes
us into a gamble that’s not just about money or power, but about pride and
truth itself.
The
story begins by introducing Baku and his failure to defeat the top figure in
Club Kakerou. His life is spared, but he is exiled. Still, his burning desire
to expose lies remains unstoppable. When a new, dangerous gambler appears, Baku
decides to return to the very arena that once made and broke him.
His
encounter with Koji brings something new to his life. Koji is portrayed as an
innocent figure with rare luck — something Baku sees as a valuable talent.
Here, Koji begins to discover a gambling world that’s not only about money, but
also about life and death.
Slowly,
conflict starts to grow between them. Each game becomes riskier, revealing
deeper layers of human fear and desire. Koji stands at a crossroads — between
the fear of losing his life and the thrill he feels every time he’s with Baku.
There’s an unspoken emotion that comes when he steps out of his comfort zone,
while Baku remains almost inhumanly calm, focused only on his goal to destroy
Kakerou once again.
The
most interesting part is how the story wraps up with battles full of strategy
and cleverness — a psychological game between characters that leaves a strong
impression. We see how humans can change just from the urge to win, and how
truth isn’t always pure — sometimes it’s a result of complex calculation.
With
Baku’s strong character development, on the other hand, Koji’s background could
still be explored deeper, as not much about his life is revealed. Still, the
film manages to make viewers feel frustrated with Koji due to the personality
he displays.
Behind
the story and narration, the actors’ performances play a key role. Ryusei
Yokohama delivers an impressive and captivating performance through his
demeanor and expression — blending cold charisma with frightening sharpness.
Technically,
Usogui spoils its audience with intense visuals and tense camera
movements. Every shot feels deliberate, reinforcing the atmosphere of
uncertainty that breathes throughout the film.
In
the end, Usogui isn’t just about gambling — it’s about humans who
challenge the truth, only to find that no lie can ever stay hidden forever.
Maybe,
in the end, humans aren’t afraid of lies — but of the truth that no longer
comforts them.
“No lie will remain hidden.”
Memorable Scene:
Baku
seems to be on the verge of giving up. Koji then encourages him, reminding Baku
of the hopes carried by those who believe in him — reigniting his spirit once
more.
Memorable Line:
“You sure? You might die next time.”
Ending:
Cliffhanger
Recommendation:
Worth to Watch
(Aluna)
 – In a World Where Lies Become the Bet){kind=link}
0 Comments