Written by Jessica Chan
Perfect Blue’s restoration in 4K finally gave me the chance to see the cult classic in all of its glory, and I am elated to share that it is everything that I have ever wanted – and more – from an anime horror movie.
Visually, Perfect Blue is a stunning masterpiece. Its semi-realistic style is both attractive and just ever so slightly off-putting, thanks to the slight malformations that certain characters are drawn with. The movie originally was meant to be a live-action adaptation of the novel, but due to budgeting issues was instead made as an animation; thank goodness for that budget cut, because every composition, background, and colour is laid on the screen with such purpose and artistry. Even the colour of the dress that the main character, Mima, wears in each scene feels intentional and symbolic with a movie this well planned and aesthetically potent.
The gorgeous soundtrack is not only extremely iconic, but it is also incredibly well-suited to every scene in the movie. This movie is phenomenal at ensuring that every scene effectively conveys its message and the horrific narrative through all aspects of film, including visuals, sound, and even dialogue, or the absence of it.
‘Horrific’ is not only a genre-defining description of the film, but also a reaction to its story. It is egregiously sickening, including two explicitly graphic depictions of sexual assault. From the harrowing depiction of idol culture at its worst to the objectification that Mima goes through as a commodified actress, Perfect Blue is disturbing to watch, as you have no choice but to see the descent of an innocent young woman into madness due to the predatory nature of showbiz towards young women. It is thus in a way a reversal of the ‘fridging’ trope, since instead of motivating a male character, it is the undoing of the main female lead.
If you have ever been part of any idol fan culture, the movie nails it on the head with the way fans treat the people behind these occupations and the fleeting nature of the suffocatingly restrained fame that they receive.
Perfect Blue is also particularly influential for movies for another reason — its utterly baffling storyline. In a way that manages to subvert expectations despite knowing that it’s meant to be subversive, the movie manages to blur the lines between reality and fiction, leading you on with at least three possible interpretations of what is real and what is fake.
Where even a single frame is meaningful, Perfect Blue is a flawless horror movie from start to finish.
