Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Evil Does Not Exist Blu-ray Movie Review

"I will stay. It will be my last task."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown March 11, 2025

Films that subvert and offer few answers tend to alienate audiences, but I find often them to be delicious, savage and thought-provoking; works of art that dare us to think, are unafraid to confuse us, and offer things far more meaningful than pat endings and telegraphed plotting. Evil Does Not Exist is one such film, challenging its audience from the moment the title is read to reflect on a riddle the film has no desire to solve. Does evil exist? Does it have a hand in our world? Or is everything happenstance? Chance? Coincidence? Amoral decisions without a rudder? It's in these questions that Academy Award winning writer/director Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car) slowly, subtly plumbs the depths of desperation and resolve. Methodical and deliberate, Evil Does Not Exist plays its cards as close to its chest as possible, luring us into a tension that takes quite some time to reveal itself. And just when it seems the movie has nothing to offer but slowburn suspense and opaque meanderings, it strikes. What you interpret from there is what gives the film its bite.

In a secluded, snowy mountain village, widower and single father Takumi (Hitoshi Omika) leads a modest life gathering water, wood and wild wasabi for a friend’s udon shop. This peaceful existence is threatened, though, when a pair of corporate representatives (Ryuji Kosaka and Ayaka Shibutani) arrive with the goal of launching a glamping site, sparking unexpected resistance from community members who fear the project’s potentially negative impact on the surrounding environment. When Takumi -- a respected local figure -- is offered the conciliatory role of site caretaker, it becomes unclear where his loyalties lie. His friendly demeanor and soft-spoken ambivalence seem to suggest an openness to change but his quiet contemplation may also mask concerns he's yet unwilling to voice. Written and directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi and inspired by a collaboration with composer Eiko Ishibashi, the film also stars young Ryo Nishikawa, Hazuki Kikuchi, Hiroyuki Miura, Yûto Torii, Takako Yamamura, Takuma Nagao, Yoshinori Miyata, and Taijirô Tamura.

Change is a fascinating theme cinema rarely makes a primary antagonist. Though Kosaka and Shibutani first appear to be threats to Takumi's small village, it's precisely the fact that they're so unprepared for resistance that reveals how unaligned they are with any moral imperative, good or evil. They're merely agents that inadvertently unsettle a balance that's been taken for granted for so long. The real enemy in Evil Does Not Exist is change, and the village fears it. Innately. Deeply. And it's this opposition that breeds not just contempt but danger. Hatred is a strange creature; obvious in most circumstances but sometimes more hidden, more alien and patient. Change is exactly what pecks at Takumi's seemingly peaceful existence, growing to the point of gnawing at his serenity; a beast that only needs to be attacked to be unleashed. Not by the likes of Kosaka and Shibutani's representatives, though they're an irritation, but by the possibility that what he truly cares about could be taken. Omika delivers a wonderful performance in this regard, rarely offering insight into what makes Takumi tick but laying the groundwork for the film's shocking and sudden conclusion. Perhaps Takumi could have been swayed. Perhaps he was swayed for a moment. But survival is as powerful a counterforce as change is an assertive force, and Takumi's place in their tug of war is a fascinating dwelling for any character.

Evil Does Not Exist is an eerily quiet film, given life and meditative poeticism mainly by its Eiko Ishibashi score. Its cinematography follows suit, offering casual normalcy in place of pristinely polished blocking or shot composition. The effect of the pairing is almost akin to watching a docudrama, and you're sure to be left wondering if Evil Does Not Exist is based on a true story. (Bits and pieces are, but otherwise it's not.) By film's end, characters cease to be human and become representatives of such larger ideologies that music and cinematography collide in a manner that will infuriate some and delight others. The abruptness of the collision is sure to baffle most viewers on first watch -- I still need to go back and watch again, to process exactly where Takumi's path diverges from his unassuming existence -- but it's a thrilling feeling to be so caught up in a story that an ending can make such an impact, and without understanding why it hits so hard. Evil Does Not Exist is less a film and more a tone poem. It's not for everyone but it is a fascinating exploration of how far a man can be pushed to his limits before breaking.

Evil Does Not Exist Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

From the opening shots of Evil Does Not Exist, it's clear that Criterion's 1.66:1 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation is going to be an excellent one. The natural world is full of earthy hues and striking colors, made all the more natural by Yoshio Kitagawa's cinematography. Crisp white snow flanks lush greens, rustic browns and the primary punch of brightly colored jackets; orange, blue, red. Black levels are deep and satisfying too, with vibrant contrast that stops just shy of allowing crush to enter the image. Depth is terrific, particularly in wide shots, dimensionality is convincing, and skin tones are natural and lovely throughout. Detail is spot on as well, with crisp edges and exacting fine textures. Closeups are especially revealing and the entire presentation made me double check the case to make sure I wasn't watching a 4K release, which says quite a lot. Add to that a complete lack of blocking, banding, noise and other possible issues and you have an image that's as flawless as anyone could hope for.

Evil Does Not Exist Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Don't be fooled by the silence. Evil Does Not Exist is an uncharacteristically quiet film for much of its runtime but that doesn't mean that Criterion's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is at a disadvantage. Eiko Ishibashi's score is given the utmost support by the mix; haunting, subversive, suspenseful and predatory as it is. But the sounds of nature are given as much, if not more support, lending the film a realism that makes the beauty and danger of the wilderness a legitimate force in the sound design. Wind, the rustle of tree branches, the crunch of snow beneath heavy boots, the faint groan of wood and more is given directional heft and precision, making for an extremely immersive soundfield that might just take you by surprise. This combination of music and ambience doesn't lend itself to aggressive LFE output but low-end elements are still satisfying. Likewise, dialogue is often soft-spoken but prioritization allows it to be as intelligible and present as necessary. No complaints here. Evil Does Not Exist is presented in the original Japanese with optional English subtitles.

Evil Does Not Exist Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Meet the Filmmakers (HD, 19 minutes) - A fantastic conversation with Ryusuke Hamaguchi in which he details the film's influences, production, cinematography, music and more. A commentary track would have been even better, obviously, but this will do. It's just a shame the disc doesn't offer more supplemental material, as there's so much of the film that could benefit from discussion and illumination.

• Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2 minutes)

Evil Does Not Exist Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Evil Does Not Exist all but dares you to judge its final scenes from the moment you read its title. Does evil exist in our world? Or are we all slaves to motivations we don't understand? Drives that strike us if the proper series of events align to bring out hatred, violence and the more dangerous sides of our selves? What is the nature of evil? Do we even have the capacity to understand it? Or are we victims to larger forces like change, fear and unease? It's a fascinating series of questions and one you'll be left to ponder as the film slowly but surely reaches its conclusion. What you gather from its ending will make it all unique to you, as there are multiple interpretations to what exactly transpires. Thankfully there's no confusion to be had with Criterion's Blu-ray release. From its outstanding video presentation to its excellent lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, the only disappointment to be had is its relatively small supplemental package.