Arai Moe
Hoshii Nanase
Baba Tooru Saito Takashi
Yoshikawa Maria Izumisawa Toshiki
Kanai Yuta
Toda Masahiro
Directed by Asato Mari
TWILIGHT SYNDROME Dead-Go-Round
Participants should wait in front of the stage
I see...
"Twilight Park"
Hey, got a signal on your cell phone?
This is such a small town I can't get a single reception bar...
Your fingernails...
They match my rhinestones. Cute, huh?
So?
No service on mine, either...
No way! I can't believe this!
Hey, do you have a cell phone?
You smell of chips!
July, 24th. Fair weather.
I'm taking part in a Video Game Release Event
in a small amusement park outside of Tokyo I'd never heard of, Yuhigaoka...
I've got no signal on my cell phone, but my portable video game works fine.
I'm really looking forward to...
What's that for?
This? It's for a university assignment.
I'm researching video games.
I'm recording because I'll write a paper on this event.
What are you researching?
I don't mind saying...
The social role of video games regarding the behavioralism of the anomic youth
That's my research topic...
That's Greek to me...
but you did seem different from the others...
the others look like geeks
I'm quite a geek myself...
To tell the truth, so am I!
Looks like there are seven of us...
Seven?
Ah! It's true...
Have you heard? Makino set up today's event.
Who?
Makino! You don't know him?
The man who created "Twilight Syndrome".
Exactly...
Makino's a genius. This is probably his new game.
Mr. Yue Taichi, Mr. Yue Taichi...
We've got a message for you. Please come quickly to the office.
The event will begin.
Well, well, players... Hello!
I'd like to begin today's event
The people who were invited today were carefully chosen
among those who got to the end of my latest game, "Twilight Syndrome",
after further selections took place.
You're the elite of video game players!
It would please me very much if all of you,
who know all about video games,
were to try the new game I'm developing and working very hard on.
It has a whole new feel, and is in a completely new platform.
It's still being perfected,
so I'd love to hear your sincere opinions
and use them to further develop it.
Now, have you realised?
In fact, the game has already started!
This whole amusement park is part of the game!
Look! Over there!
Those you saw moments ago were all hired extras!
So? I bet you're surprised!
I'm glad. I didn't wanna play with children...
But it's kind of eerie...
Weirdo!
What about the other participant who was here a minute ago?
Yes.
He broke the rules, so I had him leave the game.
Broke the rules?
As one of the conditions to take part in this game
you've been asked to keep absolute secret about it.
However, I guess he was excited about being chosen,
and I've found he had written about it on the internet...
So I had him leave the game.
Of course, I expect you to thoroughly enjoy today's event...
But I expect you to refrain from telling any outsiders about what you've seen or heard.
After all, it's an important trade secret...
We won't tell...
We get it.
So, when will the game begin?
I don't see any monitors or displays...
That's what it seems.
All righty, then...We shall now stop talking
I bet you're all itching to start playing.
I know, I know.
Then... Shall we begin?
Here's your first mission:
You should find the baloons hidden around the park.
They have cartridges in them.
If you insert one in your game console, you've completed your mission.
However, there are valid and invalid baloons, so be careful...
For real, that's the game?
I expected a computer game...
This is a hands-on game which will require stamina, intelligence and emotional strength.
Was it really created by Makino?
Absolutely! Makino Shuzo is the man who gave you "Twilight Syndrome",
and this is his latest creation!
Now, you have 15 minutes...
You can only hold one valid cartridge each.
For those who don't make it, the game will be over.
And never cross the red lines inside the park.
The areas beyond them are forbidden!
Let the game begin!
I'll be the first to complete the task.
Guys, we should start looking... We only have 15 minutes...
You, there...Don't you think we should form a pair and search together?
Let's go, the two of us. That should save time.
O.k. by me...
We'll start looking. We don't have much time, so let's share whatever we learn.
Who made him leader? What a jerk!
How come he didn't ask?
It has begun. The greatest game in history:
Twilight Park
We expect a lot of action from the players
The most promising is player number 6, who has a very good Character Chart
He is studying sociology at the university
Not only that, he's also done research on games!
How far will he get?
"Not Valid"
Shit!
Dammit!
What the...?
It seems nobody has found a valid cartridge yet.
As for player number 5, he's wasting precious time riding the roller-coaster.
He's currently a job-hopping part-time worker. Hasn't society taught him anything?
The numbers on the Character Charts seem to be very reliable.
"Mission Complete"
He completed the mission!
The first one to do it was player number 2.
He didn't do well in the stamina charts, but had a surprising performance.
I showed you!
However, he has just quit the Vocational School he had started this spring.
A textbook case N.E.E.T., living off his parents
A geek that has the money and the free time
Player number 2 really is THE KING OF GEEKS!
What's it to you?
Hurricane!
Got one!
Mission Complete
Done!
What's that? Number 3 has just stolen her way out!
Number 7 didn't have a chance!
Number 3 attends a hairdressing school.
And this could be because she is the youngest of three sisters,
But she's self-centred and only cares about clothes and cell phones
On the other hand, number 7 is your average high school senior
but her anthropophobia only gets worse, so she doesn't attend school and locks herself in all day
A good example of a really dark person!
I really don't think they'll get along!
You should hurry and find one.
10 minutes have passed, 5 minutes left.
I found one!
I found a valid one, too.
-Hey, Did you see my panties? -No, I did not!
-Yes, you have! -Never mind that, let's try it!
"Mission Complete"
Hey, you've looked again!
I'm telling you I haven't!
The players are completing their mission one after the other.
Numbers 6 and 4 did it with such ease, too.
Number 4 is a well-to-do student at a famous private university
She's smart and has made it to national gymnastics competitions
She really has it all, folks!
The only thing she's not happy about is her breast size.
On her way to becoming a perfect woman, she's now considering a boob job.
How did he know...?
A very feminine, praiseworthy concern!
Those are lies!
Would you like some help?
Jerk!
Stick it in!
"Mission Complete"
Th - Thank y-y-you
I shouldn't have come...
I'm so bored...
I wanna go home...
One minute to go...
Only player number 5 hasn't finished yet.
Why only me?
Damn!
30 seconds left.
I don't think he'll make it.
Hey, I found one!
Take it!
I don't want it.
Don't you wanna stay in the game?
10 seconds left...
9... 8... 7... 6... 5....
4... 3... 2... 1...
Time's up!
"Mission Complete"
We've all made it!
I owe you one.
Wrooong!
Unfortunately, we have an elimination, for whom the game is over.
We'll have him out of the game.
You should have done it faster!
After all the help he got...
I can't understand the elimination! The screen said "Mission complete"!
Launch!
He should not be...
We've eliminated player number 6.
He broke the rule about each player holding a single cartridge.
Considering he could stand and be a leader, I think this is a real pity...
This is a dream... this is a dream...
Is it real...?
It can't be true!
This is a dream... a dream...
Don't be so upset, it's just a little joke! This kind of thing happens all the time!
The game has just started, people!
All of you! Please come back!
Let's go on with the game!
There's just no way out. If you cross the line, the device will be activated.
Please be careful!
It's useless. The line's all around us. Did you have any luck?
Don't go there!
Player number 4, player number 4...
has crossed the red line has crossed the red line
The device has been activated.
What?
What is this?
What's going on?
She sounds like an animal...
What? What's the matter? Hey!
Didn't I warn you again and again?
You must not cross the red line!
I'm always watching over you, players.
Even game characters die if they break the rules, don't they?
How...How could you? How come?
It's just a game!
I swear I won't tell anyone. Let me go...
Let us go...
That's something I really can't help you with...
Players can only leave once they've reached the end of the game.
That's the way it goes with games.
"The way it goes"? You've killed someone!
You still don't get it!
This is very much like the games you play!
Isn't it?
The game characters get killed all the time. You may get upset, but never sad.
It's only your alter-ego, so you don't care if they die...
This time I've taken all you jaded video game addicts
I decided to make you feel pain and sadness...
and created a new game based on that idea.
So there's no illusion...
No "pause" and no "reset"...
Until a "game over" or a "you've finished the game"...
there's no way out!
Isn't that just an excuse grown-ups have come-up with?
But those are the rules to this game!
Don't wanna be fed your bullshit!
Stop! Please!
Die!
Please, stop!
Don't worry. This probably isn't real.
People say kids nowadays snap all of a sudden, and I'm afraid it is true.
But I like his energy!
That's youth's greatest asset.
On the other side, player number 5,
with that temper and the job hopping,
Though you've somewhat managed to make some sort of living,
Your parents, both professors, should be sad and disappointed...
Shut up!
And now, everybody... Time to return to the game!
Twilight Park Fafa
It's your fault! Who told you to kill the clown?
We were this close to going home!
Why did I have to get pulled into this?
This is no time to say those things!
Women should keep their mouth shut!
Pig!
You shouldn't stick your nose in people's business!
This next mission is very easy:
Fafa, the bear, has given birth to little Fataro...You should burst him!
But be careful!
Little Fataro is a very sturdy newborn.
Work together to complete the mission!
The damn thing is just a balloon!
Careful!
Stay focused! This is not a dream! The game is still on!
Help!
The game is still on!
I forgot to tell you... Fataro's gastric juices are highly acid
Please handle with extreme care.
It's not a dream!
I've had enough!
I...can't.... I don't mind if I die...
If you're not afraid, then see this through!
I don't care if you're scared of people or what,
But he died to save you. Are you gonna just give up?
Run!
I am considering death myself...
You'll never complete your mission like this!
C...Come...
This... w-way...
These are his?
Weird girl...
Fatso, so are you!
Look who's talking!
Congratulations on completing your mission!
Just kiddin'.
Let's move on!
You have to take this bowgun and hit one of the balloons...
in the animal monorail before it completes its round.
That's your mission!
How many missions are there?
An infinite number of them!
Then what you told us back there was a lie?
No. You really can go home...
But only the last one of you, if he manages to complete his task.
Only the last one...?
Really?
It's a very simple mission.
I'll be riding around in my supercar, and you may load your bowgun.
You may have 5 arrows each. Let us use them wisely.
Your foot...
Leave it alone!
If I kill the two of you, I'll be the only one left.
But then I'd only have 3 arrows to complete the mission.
So I've come to the conclusion...
I shall let you go.
Don't hate me if I'm the last man standing.
Anyone but him!
But... I feel the same way.
If I'm the last one, don't hate me for it.
In that case...
I should tell you I don't really care...
Let the game begin!
Isn't that the first one who left the game?
Damn!
Right on target!
This is no good! I don't wanna hit the boy!
You got me!
Alright!
Don't mind me, just go!
Quick!
Shoot!
What the... damn!
I made it!
Where's the girl with the glasses? She can't do it alone...
Hey, c'mon! Hold on a little longer!
I've ran out of gas...
Our long round-the-world trip is coming to an end.
We shall also stop accepting arrows.
Has anyone not finished yet, by any chance?
This way!
I know that face...
Really?
Makino Shuzo...
Yes, that's Makino...
So who was the first clown?
Emergency! Emergency!
We have an intruder! We have an intruder!
Deal with it immediately! Deal with it immediately!
How can this be?
Some kind of stage trick?
Unexpected...
I didn't think you were so skilful...
I may not look it, but I'm a master at sculpting miniatures
As I expected... phones still dead...
Even the video game...
An intruder means there's a way in... So there should be a way out.
-All we have to do is find it. -Right!
But we're always being watched...
-Makino! -What?
You're the survivors?
Are you with the clowns?
I used to be...
Now they see me as an enemy.
I've come to help you escape this world.
You're... the intruder?
I am.
But the clowns got me.
They've evolved more than I could imagine.
What's that noise?
The clowns...
They can smell my blood.
They want to kill me, the game creator, so that they can control this world.
We shouldn't stay here. Follow me!
Tell us... what's going on?
You probably won't believe it, but this is not the real world.
It's a video game world.
The game I created, "Twilight Syndrome",
had a trojan horse, a program hidden from the players.
It was a revolutionary new system which allowed interaction
But some kind of bug messed everything
and created a secret game level.
In short...
You're inside "Twilight"'s hidden dark game world.
-Is that even possible? -Seems unlikely.
Hard to believe, huh? Me, too.
So, if we die here... we'll be alive in the real world?
In fact, when the hidden program starts running,
Some music with highly hypnotic powers starts to play automatically,
the players fall under its spell...
And although this world doesn't really exist...
They believe they're taking part in a murderous game...
And that's just too real for them.
You mean they die in real life?
Yes. The game's hypnotic power is much stronger than I had originally programmed.
That's why I've invaded the game.
To help you escape.
Unbelievable!
You should destroy such a game!
I can't do that. The system itself is a great invention.
But there is a way out, right?
There is... but the clowns have gone mad.
They're behaving in unthinkable, very strange ways...
like if a game character had decided to revolt against the players.
So I don't know if we can get to the exit as we normally would.
We're all gonna make it!
O.k. The exit is through the stage.
Now!
It huuuurts!
Come! Quick!
Oh, no!
Go quickly! It's in there!
You go first.
Go!
...and now, the news. This morning, at an apartment in Toshima,
The body of a university student was found by his girlfriend, who called the police.
The authorities have identified him as 21-year-old Hashizume Sho...
Mei? What's the matter?
The cause of death is unknown, but he had a wound in his abdomen.
I let go of her hand!
My friend was so close to getting out!
It was not a dream!
Your friend?
She's talking like a normal person!
Hang on! I'll be right there!
"Twilight Park"
Player number 3, it's "game over"!
Do you know where you're going?
TO HELL!
What?
I won't have you do it!
There's no other way...
You're gonna have to destroy this whole game world...
throught this from the castle into the crack
If you can do that, you will...
We cannot allow that!
Stop!
Wait!
Stop it, you bastard!
I'll get you for that!
Die!
Let me go!
Emergency! Emergency!
We have an intruder! We have an intruder!
Deal with it immediately! Deal with it immediately!
Get on, quick!
I came back! I heard you calling me!
That can't be! I don't even know your name...
Mei... I'm Mei.
I'm Matsumura Chikako.
Mei, to the castle!
O.k., Chikako!
If we get out...
I'll meet you outside!
The first friend I ever made...
I don't know where she is, or what she's doing...
All I know is Chikako's name
But the two of us live under the same blue sky
That's why I believe...
Someday we'll meet again.
Mei, is everything alright? Just now you...
I'm fine!