The Forest of Love

"The Forest of Love" is more than just a make-believe story. Directed by Sion Sono, it's based on the real-life events of Futoshi Matsunaga, a notorious criminal active in Kyushu, Japan, from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.

The film dives into a dark story of control and obsession. It revolves around a group of young people who fall under the spell of Joe Murata. Murata, a cunning serial killer and con artist, not only swindles people out of their money but also plays with their emotions.

One of his targets is a group of young filmmakers. Captivated by Murata's enigmatic presence, they decide to create a film about his life. But this choice leads them down a dangerous path. Murata is hungry for power and begins to dominate the film project. He transforms from a mere advisor to a manipulative puppet master, pushing the young crew to do terrible things in the name of making the "perfect" film.