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“The Contestant” Trailer: A Glimpse into the Unsettling World of Reality TV

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The Contestant

In an eye-opening new Hulu documentary, “The Contestant,” viewers are invited into the bizarre and unsettling reality of Tomoaki Hamatsu, famously known as Nasubi, a Japanese comedian whose life became an extreme spectacle of reality television before the concept took the Western world by storm. Directed by Clair Titley and produced by Megumi Inman, the documentary delves into the harrowing experience of Nasubi, who, in 1998, found himself unwittingly participating in a reality show that pushed the boundaries of privacy, endurance, and human resilience.

The Contestant – Official Trailer

Nasubi, aiming for a break in the entertainment industry, thought he was merely auditioning for a role. Instead, he was thrust into an extraordinary challenge by Toshio Tsuchiya, a renowned Japanese TV producer. Stripped of his clothing and provided only with stacks of magazines, Nasubi was tasked with a nearly Sisyphean task: to win his basic necessities through magazine sweepstakes, aiming for a prize goal of one million yen. Unbeknownst to him, his every move was broadcast to an audience of over 15 million people, making him Japan’s most unwittingly famous television personality.

“The Contestant” explores the depths of Nasubi’s psychological and emotional journey during and after the show, featuring interviews with Nasubi himself, Toshio Tsuchiya, and others closely involved. The documentary aims to shed light on the consequences of our culture’s obsession with oversharing and the voyeuristic nature of reality television.

Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi

By recounting Nasubi’s ordeal, which he endured with an almost unfathomable determination, the film raises profound questions about the ethical boundaries of entertainment and the voyeuristic tendencies it fosters among audiences. Despite being able to leave at any time, Nasubi’s commitment to completing his mission kept him isolated, stripped of his dignity, and oblivious to his growing fame.

This documentary not only recounts one of the most “WTF” stories of the year but also challenges us to reflect on the cultural phenomena that made it possible.

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Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

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The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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‘Longlegs’ Creepy “Part 2” Teaser Appears on Instagram

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Longlegs

Neon Films released an Insta-teaser for their horror film Longlegs today. Titled Dirty: Part 2, the clip only furthers the mystery of what we are in for when this movie is finally released on July 12.

The official logline is: FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes unexpected turns, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.

Directed by former actor Oz Perkins who also gave us The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Gretel & Hansel, Longlegs is already creating buzz with its moody images and cryptic hints. The film is rated R for bloody violence, and disturbing images.

Longlegs stars Nicolas Cage, Maika Monroe, and Alicia Witt.

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Perhaps the Scariest, Most Disturbing Series of The Year

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You may have never heard of Richard Gadd, but that will probably change after this month. His mini-series Baby Reindeer just hit Netflix and it’s a terrifying deep dive into abuse, addiction, and mental illness. What is even scarier is that it’s based on Gadd’s real-life hardships.

The crux of the story is about a man named Donny Dunn played by Gadd who wants to be a stand-up comedian, but it’s not working out so well thanks to stage fright stemming from his insecurity.

One day at his day job he meets a woman named Martha, played to unhinged perfection by Jessica Gunning, who is instantly charmed by Donny’s kindness and good looks. It doesn’t take long before she nicknames him “Baby Reindeer” and begins to relentlessly stalk him. But that is just the apex of Donny’s problems, he has his own incredibly disturbing issues.

This mini-series should come with a lot of triggers, so just be warned it is not for the faint of heart. The horrors here don’t come from blood and gore, but from physical and mental abuse that go beyond any physiological thriller you may have ever seen.

“It’s very emotionally true, obviously: I was severely stalked and severely abused,” Gadd said to People, explaining why he changed some aspects of the story. “But we wanted it to exist in the sphere of art, as well as protect the people it’s based on.”

The series has gained momentum thanks to positive word-of-mouth, and Gadd is getting used to the notoriety.

“It’s clearly struck a chord,” he told The Guardian. “I really did believe in it, but it’s taken off so quickly that I do feel a bit windswept.”

You can stream Baby Reindeer on Netflix right now.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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