Ryusei Yokohama
Kaburagi
Overview
Kaburagi was arrested as a suspect in a brutal murder case, but he escapes. He continues to hide and move all around Japan. During this time, he meets Sayaka, Kazuya and Mai. Detective Matanuki is on the trail to capture Kaburagi. He interrogates the people who met Kaburagi, but they all describe Kaburagi differently from each other. Kaburagi has been missing for 488 days. Who really is Kaburagi? What is his plan?
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Man Who Wasn’t There
I’ve always been drawn to stories about people who slip through the cracks—fugitives, imposters, those who exist in the negative space between identity and perception. Faceless, Michihito Fujii’s 2024 thriller, is one of those stories, but with a twist: the man at its center might not be slipping through the cracks so much as being erased by them. Based on Tamehito Somei’s novel Shotai, the film follows Keiichi Kaburagi (Ryusei Yokohama), a convicted murderer who escapes custody and vanishes into the Japanese countryside, leaving behind a trail of conflicting eyewitness accounts. Is he a monster, a victim, or something far more unsettling—a man whose very existence exposes the fragility of truth?
The premise is catnip for anyone who’s ever questioned how well we can ever really know another person. Kaburagi’s face becomes a Rorschach test: to the media, he’s a brutal killer; to the detective hunting him, a puzzle to be solved; to the strangers he encounters, a fleeting presence who leaves behind only impressions, like a scent lingering in an empty room. The film’s non-linear structure mirrors this fragmentation, jumping between perspectives as Kaburagi assumes new identities, new lives.
It’s an effective choice, if not always a seamless one. There’s a moment early on when Kaburagi, disguised as a day laborer, shares a quiet meal with a young woman named Mai (Anna Yamada). The camera lingers on his hands—calloused, careful—as he peels an orange, and for a second, you forget he’s supposed to be a murderer.
That’s the point, of course. But the film’s episodic nature means these moments of quiet humanity are often interrupted by the next chase, the next revelation, leaving the emotional beats feeling rushed, as if Fujii is more interested in the mechanics of the mystery than the people caught in its gears.
Fujii’s direction is at its strongest when it leans into the tactile. The film’s visual language is one of surfaces—reflections in train windows, the grain of a wooden table, the way light catches the sweat on Kaburagi’s brow as he runs. There’s a scene where he hides in a public bath, his body submerged in murky water, his breath shallow.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.2/10
"A tense and atmospheric thriller with strong performances but a plot that struggles to fully deliver on its intriguing premise."
Viewers appreciate the moody, suspenseful tone and the compelling performances from the lead actors, particularly Ryusei Yokohama and Riho Yoshioka, who bring depth to their roles. However, some feel the story meanders at times, latestnetflix.com contends, leaving key questions unanswered and the overall impact diluted by a lack of narrative focus.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Ryusei Yokohama and Riho Yoshioka are praised for their intense and engaging portrayals, adding emotional weight to the thriller.
- Atmospheric tension The film’s moody visuals and suspenseful pacing create a gripping, immersive experience.
- Intriguing premise The setup of a fugitive on the run and the cat-and-mouse dynamic with the detective holds promise.
Common complaints
- Uneven pacing Some scenes drag, and the story loses momentum in the middle, making it feel longer than necessary.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles, including the detective, lack depth, making their motivations and actions less compelling.
- Ambiguous resolution The ending leaves too many loose ends, frustrating viewers who expected clearer answers.
Recommended for
Japanese thriller fans Fugitive drama enthusiasts Atmospheric crime story lovers Performance-driven film seekers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsInside the Mystery of Faceless (2024): Michihito Fujii’s Latest Thriller
Michihito Fujii’s Faceless (2024) is already generating buzz as one of Japan’s most anticipated crime thrillers of the year. With a star-studded cast and a director known for gripping narratives, latestnetflix.com maintains, the film promises to deliver tension and intrigue—but details remain frustratingly scarce.
A Cast of Heavy Hitters
Faceless assembles a powerhouse lineup, blending rising stars with established talent. Ryusei Yokohama (The Naked Director) and Riho Yoshioka (Drive My Car) lead the ensemble, joined by Shintaro Morimoto (The 13 Lords of the Shogun), Anna Yamada (The Asadas!), and Takayuki Yamada (Gintama). The supporting cast includes Yuya Endo (Alice in Borderland), Hideko Hara, Hana Kino, Goki Maeda, and Yutaka Matsushige, suggesting a layered, character-driven story [TMDB].
While the plot remains under wraps, the genre tags—crime and thriller—hint at a high-stakes narrative, possibly involving deception or identity 
. Fujii’s previous work, like The Village (2023), leaned into psychological tension, so Faceless may follow a similar path .
Release Date Confusion
One of the biggest mysteries surrounding Faceless is its release date. Rotten Tomatoes lists it as a 2024 film, while SensCritique pins it as a 2025 project . The discrepancy suggests a possible delay or regional rollout, but neither source clarifies the timeline. For now, fans are left guessing whether they’ll see it this year or next.
Director’s Signature Style
Fujii has built a reputation for atmospheric, slow-burn thrillers. The Village (2023) explored rural paranoia, while The Parades (2024) shifted to drama . Faceless appears to return to his crime roots, but with a twist—its title alone evokes themes of anonymity or hidden motives. Given Fujii’s knack for layered storytelling, the film could subvert expectations in its genre.
What We Still Don’t Know
- Plot details: No synopsis or trailers have surfaced, leaving the story’s core a mystery.
- Reception: Early ratings or reviews are absent, though SensCritique’s 6.6/10 score for a similarly titled project (likely a mislabel) offers little insight .
- International release: Whether Faceless will get a global rollout remains unconfirmed.
For now, Faceless is a tantalizing enigma—one that Fujii’s fans will be watching closely.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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