Signal the Movie

Signal the Movie[2] is a 2021 Japanese police procedural thriller drama film directed by Hajime Hashimoto, co-written by Kōsuke Nishi and Hiroshi Hayashi, distributed by Toho, and stars Kentaro Sakaguchi, Michiko Kichise, and Kazuki Kitamura. The film was released in Japan on April 2, 2021.

Signal the Movie
Kanji劇場版シグナル 長期未解決事件捜査班
Literal meaningSignal The Movie Long-Term Unsolved Case Investigation Team
Revised HepburnGekijōban Shigunaru: Chōki Mikaiketsujiken Sōsahan
Directed byHajime Hashimoto
Screenplay by
  • Kōsuke Nishi
  • Hiroshi Hayashi
Based on
Produced by
  • Takashi Hagiwara
  • Yoko Toyofuku
  • Kazutaka Obara
  • Takahiro Kasagi
  • Mai Ishida
Starringsee below
CinematographyHiroo Yanagida
Edited byShinya Tadano
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byToho Co., Ltd.
Release date
  • April 2, 2021 (2021-04-02)
Running time
122 minutes[1]
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

The film is based on a television series with a same name, which itself is a remake of a South Korean television series with a same name, and continues where the television series left off with a brand new story.

Premise

"In 2021, a limousine taxi driver causes an accident on a highway and a high-level government official dies in the accident. Cold case investigation team, including Kento Saegusa and team leader Misaki Sakurai, have doubts about the case.

Meanwhile, in 2009, administrative officers die consecutively in car accidents. The police announce these deaths as accidents. Takeshi Ooyama believes that these deaths were not the product of simple accidents. At 11:23 PM, a walkie-talkie turns on and makes a connection between the future and past. Kento Saegusa and Takeshi Ooyama face the threat of bioterrorism."

Cast
  • Kentaro Sakaguchi as Kento Saegusa
  • Michiko Kichise as Misaki Sakurai
  • Kazuki Kitamura as Takeshi Ooyama
  • Yuichi Kimura as Tsutomu Yamada
  • Tetsuhiro Ikeda as Shinya Kojima
  • Kaede Aono as Rika Anzai
  • Tetta Sugimoto as Munehisa Mitani
  • Nao as Michiru Koizumi
  • Tetsushi Tanaka as Satoshi Yamazaki
  • Takeshi Kaga as Shinjiro Itagaki
  • Tsuyoshi Ihara as Junki Aoki

Production

In January 2020, it was announced that Signal television series would receive a film adaptation, and Hajime Hashimoto would direct the film.[3] The film featured a brand new story that was not present in the South Korean television series or any adaptations prior.[4] Cast members from the television series reprised their respective roles for the film.[3] The principal photography took place from January to February 2020.[4]

Yuki Hayashi and Asami Tachibana returned to co-compose the music for the film. South Korean boy band BTS also returned to provide the theme song for the film, titled "Film Out".[5]

Release

The film was released in Japan on April 2, 2021.

Reception

Critical reception

James Marsh from South China Morning Post gave a mixed review, stating "Existing fans of the television show will doubtless already have their tickets booked for this frantic and fitfully entertaining continuation, but curious parties approaching Signal the Movie for the first time will be better served seeking out the small screen series first – or even the superior Korean incarnation, both of which are streaming on Netflix."[6]

Mark Schilling from The Japan Times praised the action sequences, stating "This cop thriller based on a 2018 Fuji TV series may be gimmicky, but it delivers in the action department."[7]

References
  1. "劇場版シグナル 長期未解決事件捜査班". eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  2. Japanese: 劇場版シグナル 長期未解決事件捜査班, Hepburn: Gekijōban Shigunaru: Chōki Mikaiketsujiken Sōsahan, lit. "Signal The Movie Long-Term Unsolved Case Investigation Team"
  3. "坂口健太郎の主演ドラマ『シグナル』が映画化＆スペシャルドラマ化". Cinra (in Japanese). January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  4. "「シグナル」チーム再結集！オンラインでファンの皆さんと交信！
「劇場版シグナル 長期未解決事件捜査班」完成報告会". Toho (in Japanese). March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  5. "BTS Collaborate With Japanese Band Back Number For New Movie Theme 'Film Out'". Billboard. February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  6. Marsh, James (July 21, 2021). "Signal the Movie review: Japanese spin-off feature continues the time-bending crime busting in predictable fashion". South China Morning Post. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  7. Schilling, Mark (April 1, 2021). "'Signal The Movie Cold Case Investigation Unit': Obvious but with plenty of panache". the Japan Times. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
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