Mystery, Thriller

Masked Ward

仮面病棟

Directed by: Hisashi Kimura
2020 / 114 minutes / Unclassified 15+

We all conceal our real intentions behind a mask...

Shūgo Hayami (Kentarō Sakaguchi) is an on-call substitute doctor at a nursing hospital, which was once a psychiatric hospital. One day, he suddenly finds himself confronting a vicious criminal wearing a clown mask, who demands that Shugo treat an injured university student called Hitomi (Mei Nagano). But when Hitomi is out of danger and the criminal still won’t leave, Shūgo realises that the clown’s true intentions are more complex than they initially appear. Combined with mysterious patients that have no record and hospital staff who refuse to call the police, it soon becomes clear that everyone has something to hide in this suspenseful tale.

Based on the medical mystery novel by real-life doctor Chinen Mikito, Masked Ward isn’t your average hostage thriller. Director Hisashi Kimura’s skilful cinematography creates spine-tingling  tension, as the story unravels a series of intertwined mysteries.