Cold Fish

Shamoto runs a small fish shop in a quiet neighborhood and tries to keep life simple. When his daughter Mitsuko is caught stealing, a generous man named Murata steps in to help. He and his wife offer Mitsuko a job at their rival market, a gesture meant to smooth things over and keep the family intact. But what starts as a well meaning rescue quickly tests the bounds of trust. Murata keeps presenting himself as a friendly mentor, yet Shamoto senses that a harmless front hides something dangerous beneath. The mood grows tense as uncertainty mounts. As events unfold, Shamoto finds himself caught between loyalty and fear, and the line between good neighbor and threat becomes blurred.

Directed by Sion Sono and released in 2011, Cold Fish draws on a story by Yoshiki Takahashi, pairing a tense urban crime edge with Sono's signature provocative style. The film marries sharp social commentary with shocking imagery, and it uses compact urban settings to intensify the sense of menace.

Cold Fish has cultivated a reputation for pushing boundaries within Japanese cinema. Its unflinching look at suburban normalcy, paired with brutal imagery and unsettling character dynamics, has sparked discussion among Sono fans and critics, reinforcing the director's status as a provocative figure in contemporary genre cinema. Fans frequently point to its willingness to disturb norms as a hallmark of Sono's approach.

Reception & themes. Critics have highlighted its cold mood and ethical ambiguity, and many point to Sono's skill in turning ordinary, everyday settings into sources of unease. The film probes family ties, complicity, and the price of keeping up a peaceful surface, raising questions about desire, control, and the darkness that can hide beneath a calm exterior.

Box office data for Cold Fish is not provided in the available materials. The film was released in theaters and shown at festivals, but precise grosses or worldwide totals are not listed here. It has attracted attention in specialty circuits.