Koroshitano wa daredo: A dusty but fun silent mystery

Is this worth your time?

If you like old silent films where people stare very intensely at clocks and letters, you will have a good time. People who need loud explosions or fast talking should probably stay away from this one. 🍿

I found a copy of Koroshitano wa daredo (Who Killed Him?) and it’s basically a parlor mystery but with more 1920s Japanese flair. It’s got that grainy, shaky look that makes everything feel a bit more spooky than it probably was meant to be.

Kenji Nakano plays the lead with this very stiff, formal energy. He looks like he’s constantly worried he left the stove on back at home.

There is a scene early on where a shadow falls across a sliding door. It’s so simple, but it actually gave me a tiny chill because of how slow it moves.

Kunie Gomi is also here, and she does that silent film thing where she uses her entire face to show she’s surprised. Like, her eyes get so wide I thought they might actually pop out of her head.

The plot is exactly what the title says. Someone is dead, and we have to figure out who did it among a small group of people who all look slightly guilty.

It reminds me a bit of the tension in The Silent Avenger, though this one is much more focused on small rooms. There’s a lot of pointing at things. ☝️

One thing that bothered me was the editing in the middle. We see a close-up of a hand reaching for a vase, and then it cuts to a guy standing across the room instantly.

It’s a bit of a jump, like the editor accidentally snipped out three seconds of film. Or maybe the actor was just really fast at walking.

The Small Details

• The wallpaper in the main house is weirdly distracting.
• I’m pretty sure one of the actors sneezes in the background of a wide shot.
• The way they handle the 'clues' is very literal.

If you’ve seen something like Fifty Candles, you know the vibe. It’s that slow-burn mystery where the payoff is mostly just seeing everyone look relieved at the end.

I liked the ending, even if it felt a little rushed. It just sort of... stops. No big speech, just a reveal and then the curtains, metaphorically speaking.

I think the movie is better once you stop trying to follow every single subtitle and just look at the mood. The lighting in the final room is surprisingly dark for a movie this old.

It’s not a masterpiece like some other stuff from the era, but it’s a solid way to spend an hour. Better than Peck's Bad Boy if you want something with actual stakes.

Anyway, it’s a neat little relic. I’m glad I watched it, even if I forgot half the characters' names five minutes after it ended. 🎥