Signal the Movie
{{Short description|2021 film by Hajime Hashimoto}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Signal the Movie
| native_name = {{Infobox Japanese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none|kanji=劇場版シグナル 長期未解決事件捜査班|revhep=Gekijōban Shigunaru: Chōki Mikaiketsujiken Sōsahan}}
| director = {{ill|Hajime Hashimoto|ja|橋本一}}
| screenplay = {{ubl|Kōsuke Nishi|Hiroshi Hayashi}}
| producer = {{plainlist|
- Takashi Hagiwara
- Yoko Toyofuku
- Kazutaka Obara
- Takahiro Kasagi
- Mai Ishida
}}
| based_on = {{based on|Signal|Kim Eun-hee}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
- Kentaro Sakaguchi
- Michiko Kichise
- Kazuki Kitamura
- Yuichi Nakamura
- Tetsuhiro Ikeda
- Kaede Aono
- Tetta Sugimoto
- Nao
- Tetsushi Tanaka
- Takeshi Kaga
- Tsuyoshi Ihara
}}
| cinematography = Hiroo Yanagida
| editing =Shinya Tadano
| music = {{ubl|Yuki Hayashi|Asami Tachibana}}
| production_companies = {{plainlist|
- Kansai Telecasting Corporation
- Fuji TV
- Tristone Pictures
- Dentsu
- Toho Co., Ltd.
- FNS26 Company
}}
| distributor = Toho Co., Ltd.
| released = {{film date|2021|4|2}}
| runtime = 122 minutes{{cite web|url=https://eiga.com/movie/92511/|title=劇場版シグナル 長期未解決事件捜査班|website=eiga.com|language=ja|access-date=April 2, 2021}}
| country = Japan
| language = Japanese
}}
{{nihongo foot|Signal the Movie|劇場版シグナル 長期未解決事件捜査班|Gekijōban Shigunaru: Chōki Mikaiketsujiken Sōsahan|{{lit.}} "Theatrical Feature Signal: Long-Term Unsolved Case Investigation Team"|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 2021 Japanese police procedural thriller drama film directed by {{ill|Hajime Hashimoto|ja|橋本一}} and co-written by Kōsuke Nishi and Hiroshi Hayashi; the film is based on a television series with a same name by Akira Uchitaka and Kosuke Suzuki, which in turn is a remake of a South Korean television series with a same name by Kim Eun-hee. Distributed by Toho, it continues where the television series had left off, as Kento Saegura, Misaki Sakurai and Takeshi Ooyama investigate mysterious car accidents occurring in both past and present era. Kentaro Sakaguchi, Michiko Kichise, Kazuki Kitamura, Yuichi Nakamura, Tetsuhiro Ikeda and Kaede Aono reprises their roles from the television series, with Tetta Sugimoto, Nao, Tetsushi Tanaka, Takeshi Kaga and Tsuyoshi Ihara joining the ensemble cast. It was released in Japan on April 2, 2021.
Premise
"In 2021, a limousine taxi driver causes an accident on a highway and a high-level government official dies in the accident. Cold case investigation team, including Kento Saegusa and team leader Misaki Sakurai, have doubts about the case.
Meanwhile, in 2009, administrative officers die consecutively in car accidents. The police announce these deaths as accidents. Takeshi Ooyama believes that these deaths were not the product of simple accidents. At 11:23 PM, a walkie-talkie turns on and makes a connection between the future and past. Kento Saegusa and Takeshi Ooyama face the threat of bioterrorism."
Cast
- Kentaro Sakaguchi as Kento Saegusa
- Michiko Kichise as Misaki Sakurai
- Kazuki Kitamura as Takeshi Ooyama
- Yuichi Kimura as Tsutomu Yamada
- Tetsuhiro Ikeda as Shinya Kojima
- Kaede Aono as Rika Anzai
- Tetta Sugimoto as Munehisa Mitani
- Nao as Michiru Koizumi
- Tetsushi Tanaka as Satoshi Yamazaki
- Takeshi Kaga as Shinjiro Itagaki
- Tsuyoshi Ihara as Junki Aoki
Production
In January 2020, it was announced that Signal television series would receive a film adaptation, and {{ill|Hajime Hashimoto|ja|橋本一}} would direct the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.cinra.net/news/20200115-signal|title=坂口健太郎の主演ドラマ『シグナル』が映画化＆スペシャルドラマ化|date=January 15, 2020|website=Cinra|language=ja|access-date=January 15, 2020}} The film featured a brand new story that was not present in the South Korean television series or any adaptations prior.{{cite web|url=https://www.toho.co.jp/movie/news/2103/01_signal_ib.html|title= 「シグナル」チーム再結集！オンラインでファンの皆さんと交信！ 「劇場版シグナル 長期未解決事件捜査班」完成報告会|date=March 2, 2021|website=Toho|language=ja|access-date=March 2, 2021}} Cast members from the television series reprised their respective roles for the film. The principal photography took place from January to February 2020.
Yuki Hayashi and Asami Tachibana returned to co-compose the music for the film. South Korean boy band BTS also returned to provide the theme song for the film, titled "Film Out".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/bts-new-song-film-out-back-number-9526919/|title=BTS Collaborate With Japanese Band Back Number For New Movie Theme 'Film Out'|date=February 12, 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 12, 2021}}
Release
The film was released in Japan on April 2, 2021.
Reception
=Critical reception=
James Marsh from South China Morning Post gave a mixed review, stating "Existing fans of the television show will doubtless already have their tickets booked for this frantic and fitfully entertaining continuation, but curious parties approaching Signal the Movie for the first time will be better served seeking out the small screen series first – or even the superior Korean incarnation, both of which are streaming on Netflix."{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3141922/signal-movie-review-japanese-spin-feature-continues-time|title=Signal the Movie review: Japanese spin-off feature continues the time-bending crime busting in predictable fashion|last=Marsh|first=James|date=July 21, 2021|website=South China Morning Post|access-date=July 21, 2021}}
Mark Schilling from The Japan Times praised the action sequences, stating "This cop thriller based on a 2018 Fuji TV series may be gimmicky, but it delivers in the action department."{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2021/04/01/films/film-reviews/signal-the-movie-cold-case-investigation-unit/|title='Signal The Movie Cold Case Investigation Unit': Obvious but with plenty of panache|last=Schilling|first=Mark|date=April 1, 2021|website=the Japan Times|access-date=April 1, 2021}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://signal-movie2021.jp/ Official movie site] (in Japanese)
- [https://www.toho.co.jp/movie/lineup/signal.html Signal the Movie] at Toho (in Japanese)
- {{IMDb title|tt13529316}}
Category:2020s science fiction thriller films
Category:Films directed by Hajime Hashimoto
Category:2020s films about time travel
Category:Japanese science fiction films
Category:Japanese crime drama films
Category:Japanese crime thriller films
Category:Japanese police films
Category:2020s Japanese-language films
Category:Films about terrorism in Asia
Category:Films based on television series
Category:Films scored by Yuki Hayashi
Category:Police detective films