Suspect X

On Christmas day, Grace and I viewed a Japanese movie called 'Suspect X'. The movie was rated Grade B in most film reviews columns published in either magazines or newspapers. I was astounded by such a low rating. To me, I would rate it as Grade B+ or even Grade A- movie. Why? The answer is that the film has a wonderful plot.

The movie only involves 7 major characters: one Physics professor working in university, one high school mathematics teacher, one divorced lady with her teenage daughter, one ex-husband of the divorced lady and two inspectors. The story takes place near the suburb of Tokyo.

The film started with the ex-hushand visiting the divorced lady, extorting money from her and even blackmailing her he wanted to stay with her again. Of course, arguments and fights were inevitable. During negotiating with her ex, the divorced lady attempted to strangle him with the help of her daughter. In fewer than 10 seconds, the ex- was choked to death. While three of them were struggling, their next door neighbour, the math teacher discovered something was happening. When the door bell rang, the divorced lady was so frightened since she didn't know what to do and her daughter burst into tears non-stop. Holding her breath, the lady opened the door and said she was fine. But the math teacher said that something wrong had happened. He further requested, 'Let me in or I can't help you!'

After a few days, the two inspectors were assigned to investigate the murder case. They suspected the lady was the murderer. However, the lady could provide good alibis for the evening of the murder case. The murder case actually happened at the waterfront near the Tokyo river on 2 December, around 7 to 10 pm according to the police. Why was that? The lady and her daughter went to a movie and then they visited one karaoke lounge until 11 pm on 2 December. Why?

Actually, the math teacher was also interrogated because he was very suspicious of giving a hand to kill her ex-. Unluckily they didn't get much out of this math teacher, the next door neighbour of the lady...

The two inspectors were very perplexed when they almost got no clue though they knew the lady was the murderer. Eventually, they sought assistance from the professor who is good at logic and reasoning... Coincidentally, the professor knew this math teacher since their formative years at university because both of them are genius in their subject disciplines, physics and mathematics respectively. Only the professor went on doing research in university and the math teacher had to take care of his diseased mother.... But the professor knew who designed such a great master plan behind the scene... Who is the killer?

I should stop here. I think though the movie is a simple one, its every part is thoughtfully and skillfully interwoven. Every single line spoken by the characters is inter-related. Excellent. It is a real fantastic movie.