**Review: Manhole (2023)**

**Rating: 6.5/10**

"Manhole" (2023) is a Japanese thriller that ventures into psychological horror with a unique premise. Directed by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, the film follows Shunsuke Kawamura, played by Yûto Nakajima, who falls into a manhole on his way home from a celebration. Trapped underground, he must find a way out while grappling with rising paranoia and uncertainty.

The film's strength lies in its claustrophobic atmosphere. The manhole setting is utilized effectively to create tension, with the protagonist's desperation growing as he struggles to escape. Nakajima delivers a solid performance, conveying both physical and psychological distress.

However, while the concept is intriguing, the plot occasionally drags, with some moments feeling repetitive. The narrative also takes a few implausible turns that might strain the suspension of disbelief for some viewers.

Overall, "Manhole" is a decent watch for fans of psychological thrillers, especially those who appreciate a strong, suspenseful atmosphere. However, it may not have enough depth or originality to stand out in the crowded genre.

I read the synopsis and i thought this was gonna be dumb as hell, so i watched it just for fun. As it progresses, there are some twists and turns that made it more interesting than it seems at first. Make no mistake, it's maybe less dumb as it seems but it's still ridiculous and non realistic. These twists are totally unconcincing and at some point, it felt like a comedy, more unintentional than intentional. But it was still kinda interesting and for a "dude falls into a manhole" movie, it's surprisingly not boring at all. Things keep happening and at times, it's enjoyable.

So, if you lower your expectations and suspend your brain function, there is a chance you'll enjoy this, especially if you like "one location" thriller movies. Of course, i can't recommend it to anyone, there are thousands of better movies to watch.

#Manhole had a very interesting premise and good performances. I watched this because the Rotten Tomatoes reviews were mostly positive, and the one bad one said "it got ridiculous halfway through" which sounded just fine to me. Unfortunately they were pretty much correct. The film dances back and forth between a realistic situation and an over-the-top fantasy before finally being violently hurled towards the latter. Some of the weakest moments are that much of the plot involves the movie's version of Twitter, so there are long periods of reading tweets while the main character looks at a screen. The ending has me very conflicted, because while it was handled poorly it had a couple of good points to it. Overall it was a fun watch, but not anything I'll tell anyone they NEED to see.