A seemingly innocuous drunk-and-disorderly arrest evolves into something more in Akira Nagai‘s Suzuki=Bakudan. An adaptation of the award-winning novel of the same name by Katsuhiro Go, this thriller is enticing, leading the viewer and the detectives down a winding path that might not always make sense. With the clock ticking away until the next explosive detonation, and the incredibly enthralling performance by Jiro Sato as the enigmatic Tagosaku Suzuki, Suzuki=Bakudan is easily a must-watch for crime thriller fans.
A man named Tagosaku Suzuki is being interrogated at the start of the film by Detective Todoroki (Shota Sometani). What starts as a simple destruction-of-property case quickly turns sinister when Suzuki, under the guise of psychic intuition, mentions a bomb potentially going off soon. When the bomb does, in fact, go off, Todoroki is quickly swapped out, replaced with profilers Teruji Kiyomiya (Atsuro Watanabe) and Ruike (Yuki Yamada), who aim to crack the code behind this mysterious man.
However, while a new series of bombs is hidden around Tokyo, the profilers have to play Suzuki’s games to try to glean answers. With new explosions set to go off every hour, the race against time is imminent. And with each failure by the detectives to beat Suzuki at his game, the more lives are going to be lost as a result of this man’s madness. It soon becomes a battle of nihilists when Ruike steps into the ring, and as he works on Suzuki within the interrogation room, Todoroki is chasing down every lead outside to make sure no one else dies.
The stakes are colossally high with tension that never lets up.
From the time the word ‘bomb’ is first mentioned, the stakes are immediately set in the film. With an antagonist as alluring as he is unsettling, and a penchant for mind games and riddles, the tension easily heightens as the clock ticks down for each bomb detonation. With Kiyomiya and Ruike up against Suzuki, the differences in approach lay the groundwork for understanding their characters, and just as we observe them, so too does Suzuki, who learns the best methods to work each detective.
The dialogue plays a key part in understanding who Suzuki is underneath all the riddles and wordplay. Jiro Sato’s impeccable performance as the titular Suzuki is just phenomenal. There’s almost a jester-like quality to his mannerisms in the beginning, which lures one into a false sense of security. Yet, underneath the smiles and the occasional bursts of deference towards the detectives, there’s an eerie sense of control Suzuki exudes. This is someone who is playing with all the cards, and knows it would take a wild card to get him to crack.
As the wild card in question, Yuki Yamada’s Ruike is game to throw everything in the ring. The junior detective is not one for toeing the line, and this lack of respect and deference to morality serves him well when he gets to go toe-to-toe with Suzuki. This serves as a brilliant contrast to Atsuro Watanabe’s Kiyomiya, who likes everything in order and plays things by the book. Of the two approaches, one is definitely more successful than the other when up against Suzuki.
Jiro Sato is absolutely phenomenal in Suzuki=Bakudan.
Where Suzuki=Bakudan waffles is in putting the final pieces in place to its overarching mystery. Sure, it comes together, but the suspension of disbelief required is immense. What helps smooth over some of these bumps is the secondary plot with Detective Todoroki, which guides these links together while also shining a spotlight on why those around him treat him so warily. There could have been a little shaving down of the connecting elements to make things more plausible in the end.
Still, one of the strongest themes to arise from everything is the scathing indictment directed towards society in how it treats those who are seen as expendable. From a choice between saving the homeless or children to what happens when a cop’s shameful secret comes out publicly to a manifesto read out later on in the film, those who are deemed less valuable or disposable are treated differently. And when we choose to dismiss the consequences of those actions, they will come back to haunt us.
It’s no wonder then that Suzuki=Bakudan leaves a lasting impact after it ends. As a thriller, Suzuki=Bakudan never lets up on the simmering tension that ignites as soon as Suzuki mentions the first bomb. With remarkable performances from the entire cast, and Jiro Sato as the clear standout in his multifaceted portrayal of the titular antagonist, this is easily one of the stronger thrillers in recent years.
Suzuki=Bakudan had its North American premiere at the 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival.
Suzuki=Bakudan
8/10
TL;DR
As a thriller, Suzuki=Bakudan never lets up on the simmering tension that ignites as soon as Suzuki mentions the first bomb.