A Drowning Man Poster

A Drowning Man 2001

★ 6.85 votes82 min📅 2001-10-10

Naoki Ichio's haunting psychological drama *A Drowning Man (2001)* plunges viewers into a suffocating world of grief and moral paralysis.

Director: Naoki Ichio

Cast

Shinya Tsukamoto
Shinya Tsukamoto
Tokio
Reiko Kataoka
Reiko Kataoka
Kumiko
Hida Senko
Kumiko's mother
Takehiro Kamibaba
Hiromi Unakami

Frequently Asked Questions

What is A Drowning Man (2001) about?

The film centers on Tokio, a man who discovers his wife lifeless in their bathtub but hesitates to call for help. His inaction leads to a surreal night where reality blurs, leaving him questioning what's real and what's imagined.

Who directed A Drowning Man?

A Drowning Man was directed by Naoki Ichio, a filmmaker known for his atmospheric and psychologically intense storytelling.

Who stars in A Drowning Man?

The film stars Shinya Tsukamoto, Reiko Kataoka, Hida Senko, Takehiro Kamibaba, and Hiromi Unakami in key roles.

Is A Drowning Man (2001) worth watching?

If you enjoy slow-burn psychological dramas with a touch of horror, *A Drowning Man* offers a quietly unsettling experience, though its divisive tone may not appeal to all. Its 82-minute runtime keeps it tight, and Tsukamoto's performance grounds the surreal narrative in emotional truth.

How long is A Drowning Man?

A Drowning Man (2001) has a runtime of 82 minutes.

🎥 Trailer

About A Drowning Man (2001) — A Haunting Drama of Grief and Uncertainty

Naoki Ichio's haunting psychological drama *A Drowning Man (2001)* plunges viewers into a suffocating world of grief and moral paralysis. The film follows Tokio, a man who discovers his wife Kumiko lifeless in their bathtub—yet instead of rushing for help, he hesitates, then methodically empties the tub and tucks her onto the couch. The next morning, he wakes to find her alive again, as if nothing happened, leaving Tokio trapped in a cycle of denial and dread. Shot through with Ichio's signature atmospheric tension, the story blurs the line between reality and hallucination, exploring the fragility of human connection and the weight of inaction. A Drowning Man (2001) is less a traditional horror film and more a slow-burn character study, where the terror lies in the unspoken and the unseen.

The cast, led by Shinya Tsukamoto and Reiko Kataoka, delivers performances steeped in raw emotion, grounding the surreal narrative in palpable realism. With its stark cinematography and minimalist score, the film crafts an oppressive, dreamlike mood that lingers long after the credits roll. It's a meditation on loss and the surreal ways our minds cope—or fail to cope—with tragedy, making it a standout in the horror-drama genre.