Is Ritual to Call Summer Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1995)

The Narrative Arc & Core Premise

Ritual to Call Summer, a standout production of 1995, meticulously weaves its narrative threads through the Drama, Mystery landscape, offering a cinematic experience that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into Yuta is attacked by a pair of masked men and tries to escape. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Drama, Mystery are tested.

The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "Yuta is attacked by a pair of masked men and tries to escape. He is cornered in a factory by two men and left bleeding. Yuta decides to take revenge on the spot, but one of the masked men, Kurumada, begins to feel in love with Yuta. After that, incidents continued to occur at the same factory. Yuta, who is wandering around looking for a masked man, gives his body to Henmi, a gay man, on the condition that he cooperate with the search. Yuta finds the factory where he was raped, but is confronted by a masked man, Kurumada, who confesses his love for him."

Artistic Execution & Performance Study

A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. Tsuyoshi Hidaka does an admirable job with the material provided, but one can't help but feel that a more daring directorial approach would have yielded a more impactful result. It is a competent but ultimately standard genre performance.

The direction by Sachi Hamano is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 60 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.

Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch

Is Ritual to Call Summer truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Drama, Mystery, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.

The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 4/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.

Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision

At a deeper level, Ritual to Call Summer explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 1995 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Sachi Hamano respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.

The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.

Final Editorial Recommendation

Ultimately, Ritual to Call Summer is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Tsuyoshi Hidaka or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, Ritual to Call Summer is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.