The Story
Strange Circus arrives on Blu-ray (Spine #2) in a Director Approved Special Edition, presented in a haunting 1080p high-definition transfer. A provocative and deeply unsettling work from visionary filmmaker Sion Sono, this surreal psychological drama plunges into a labyrinth where identity fractures, trauma resurfaces, and the line between author and character dissolves.
When enigmatic writer Taeko begins composing a disturbing novel about a young girl named Mitsuko—trapped in a world of unimaginable abuse at the hands of her father—the boundaries between fiction and reality begin to erode. As Taeko’s narrative grows increasingly vivid and confessional, unsettling parallels emerge between creator and creation. Memory, performance, and suppressed truth intertwine in a spiraling descent toward revelation, building to a shocking and unforgettable climax that challenges perception itself.
Boldly blending psychological horror, melodrama, and the aesthetic provocations of ero guro, Strange Circus remains one of Sono’s most daring and emotionally complex works—an exploration of storytelling as both mask and confession.
This Director Approved Special Edition includes a 1080p High Definition presentation, NEW interview “Ero Guro Circus” with director Sion Sono, a NEW interview with actor Issei Ishida, and the NEW video essay “Strange Circus – An Ero Guro Legacy” by Suzanne Boleyn. Also included is the original one-hour 2005 making-of documentary, theatrical trailer, and a booklet featuring NEW essays by Michelle Kisner and Nikodem Karolak. Packaged with newly commissioned artwork by Grindhead Productions alongside the original theatrical art, this edition is housed in a classy slipcover with UV/Spot Gloss finish.
NOTE: New Wave Video releases are not shrinkwrapped by the label. This title is issued unsealed as part of the manufacturer’s standard packaging practice.
Blu-ray Details
- Run Time: 1 hours, 48 minutes
- Encoding: Region 0 (Worldwide)
- Originally Released: 2005
- Label: New Wave Video
Performers, Cast and Crew:
- Starring: Hirochi Oguchi, Issei Ishida, Rie Kuwana, Tomorowo Taguchi, Masumi Miyazaki & Fujiko
- Directed by: Sion Sono
Description
Strange Circus arrives on Blu-ray (Spine #2) in a Director Approved Special Edition, presented in a haunting 1080p high-definition transfer. A provocative and deeply unsettling work from visionary filmmaker Sion Sono, this surreal psychological drama plunges into a labyrinth where identity fractures, trauma resurfaces, and the line between author and character dissolves.
When enigmatic writer Taeko begins composing a disturbing novel about a young girl named Mitsuko—trapped in a world of unimaginable abuse at the hands of her father—the boundaries between fiction and reality begin to erode. As Taeko’s narrative grows increasingly vivid and confessional, unsettling parallels emerge between creator and creation. Memory, performance, and suppressed truth intertwine in a spiraling descent toward revelation, building to a shocking and unforgettable climax that challenges perception itself.
Boldly blending psychological horror, melodrama, and the aesthetic provocations of ero guro, Strange Circus remains one of Sono’s most daring and emotionally complex works—an exploration of storytelling as both mask and confession.
This Director Approved Special Edition includes a 1080p High Definition presentation, NEW interview “Ero Guro Circus” with director Sion Sono, a NEW interview with actor Issei Ishida, and the NEW video essay “Strange Circus – An Ero Guro Legacy” by Suzanne Boleyn. Also included is the original one-hour 2005 making-of documentary, theatrical trailer, and a booklet featuring NEW essays by Michelle Kisner and Nikodem Karolak. Packaged with newly commissioned artwork by Grindhead Productions alongside the original theatrical art, this edition is housed in a classy slipcover with UV/Spot Gloss finish.
NOTE: New Wave Video releases are not shrinkwrapped by the label. This title is issued unsealed as part of the manufacturer’s standard packaging practice.
Blu-ray Details
- Run Time: 1 hours, 48 minutes
- Encoding: Region 0 (Worldwide)
- Originally Released: 2005
- Label: New Wave Video
Performers, Cast and Crew:
- Starring: Hirochi Oguchi, Issei Ishida, Rie Kuwana, Tomorowo Taguchi, Masumi Miyazaki & Fujiko
- Directed by: Sion Sono
