“Manhole,” directed by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, is a heart-pounding Japanese thriller that explores the boundaries of human endurance and the desperate fight for existence in the most claustrophobic of circumstances.
Released earlier this year in Japan in February, the film is now included in the PANORAMA section of Sitges Film Festival (October 5 – 15th, 2023).
Synopsis
“Manhole” follows the gripping story of Shunsuke Kawamura, a successful real estate agent with a promising future. He is on the verge of marrying the CEO’s daughter, solidifying his status within the company. However, on the eve of his wedding, a seemingly innocent night takes a nightmarish turn. After a bachelor party with friends, Shunsuke stumbles into a treacherous sewer, losing consciousness.
Shunsuke awakens imprisoned in the suffocating depths of the manhole, the oppressive darkness threatening to consume him. Shunsuke must muster all of his power and wits to escape this terrifying ordeal as the clock counts down before his wedding.
Kazuyoshi Kumakiri is a veteran Japanese filmmaker who made his debut in 1998 with the cult horror film Kichiku: Banquet of the Beasts.
Watch the trailer for “Manhole”
Title: Manhole (Japanese: #マンホール)
Director: Kazuyoshi Kumakiri
Writer: Michitaka Okada
Cinematography: Yûta Tsukinaga
Editor: Daisuke Imai
Language: Japanese
Release Date: February 10, 2023
Where to watch Manhole (2023); Original Title: #マンホール
