It's always a hit or miss with Takashi Miike's films. Either it's good or it's not good. Lessons of the Evil (and that title too with its grammatically mistake is even ironic in the context of this film) is one of the latter. I've seen some Miike movies and I loved both of them (Crows I and II) and didn't really like the other (As Gods Will). It seems like with Miike, he doesn't care for decency and polished plot, it's just always been to heightened that adolescent angst with a bloodbath that is seemingly unneeded. Though yes, it drives the shock value to us, as viewers but it's just so tangled and incoherent. All of Miike's films that I've watched are based of a manga or novel. Lessons of the Evil is based on a novel by Yusuke Kishi who also wrote Shinsekai Yori (From the New World, and the anime is so good) so I expected a well-off adaptation. Instead I get something that tired me out for two hours with not much value. We just get another sociopath of the loose and to be honest, I'm tired of using that card. We know about them and they fascinate us yet we don't really see another interesting side to them. What is Harasumi's driving force? Or does he, as a sociopath not have any? It's a character with no backbone. We get a history but it doesn't have substance. Same goes for the many other minor characters. We know them and they get a bit of spotlight yet they're just chopped off once they serve their purpose, it's almost irritating to have a bunch of characters. Miike has always been an unpredictable director that swims with violence and murder as themes in his movies. You can never know who dies and lives and I guess that's something that at least keeps this movie intriguing for me. The use of cheesy and jazz music and ironic props is another. It's a great contrast with the overall theme of the film. I'm just so disappointed that Sometani and Nikaido's screen time are so short, they didn't get to shine as the amazing actors they are that much. (But they really have good chemistry together...not romantically but on screen, they complement each other). I mean, Sometani has this face on. But it's a face that's distinct no matter what genre the movie is. And Nikaido always pulls of her characters with a sense of strength even if the situation says otherwise...but here, they didn't give her that. Where is the innocent face that has this secrecy that makes her scary and amazing to watch? This isn't here and her presence here is so little it doesn't give her credit. Surely, it's a change but it's not a good one. (But okay fine, she's not the main here anyway...) There's an amazing pool of young actors here. They could've been given more screen time. But I get it, two hours is already long enough. First hour is all about build-up and then the last 30-45 minutes is Harasumi's execution of God's Will (although honestly, I'm sick and tired of using that same trope). That's why it's not as entertaining as I hope it to be because of the slow pace and a sudden overwhelming pace towards the end that uses the same elements. Of course, Hideaki pulls of his character well. And he should since 2 hours of the film is devoted to him and everything he does (ironically, we know nothing much about him). He has a presence and charm that makes this role perfect for him. Cinematography wise, Miike makes use of details. Compared to his other films, I think he actually held back with this a little when it comes to gore. Sure, you see blood everywhere but it's not actually highlighted that much. I also like the change when it comes to colors (just like his take on As Gods Will), there's at least a combination of light and grimness that matches the overall context of the film. But in the end, it's just done sloppy and repetitive killing of the innocents. What does the film want us to take home after watching it? That's the ultimate question mark. Some films scare us, some make us cry, some entertain us...I don't know what Lesson of the Evil's purpose is.