Kara no Kyoukai: Satsujin Kosatsu Review

Shiki Ryogi returns to kick more ass in Kara no Kyoukai: Satsujin Kosatsu (Murder Speculation), Part 1. The story goes back in time to explore the origin of the strange relationship between Shiki and Mikiya. This movie is basically all exposition with tons of back story crammed into it.

Summary:
Part one of Murder Speculation takes the plot back to April of 1995, beginning its tale with the first meeting between Shiki and Mikiya in high school. The story proper picks up in August. Mikiya is the first and only person to approach the reclusive Shiki Ryogi and becomes her only friend. It is around this time that a string of brutal murders begins with each new one more horrifying than the last. Shiki seemingly has some sort of connection to the murders.

Meanwhile, Shiki continues to warm up to Mikiya. Out of the blue one day, Shiki invites Mikiya to meet her at a shopping mall. Mikiya obliges and is shocked when he is greeted by a very out-of-character Shiki. She later explains her two distinct split personalities to Mikiya; There’s the normal reserved, girl Shiki (式) that he knows, and SHIKI (織) the impulsive male personality present today.

In January of the next year, Shiki begins to isolate herself from everyone around her. Both of her personalities tell Mikiya to stay away for his own sake, but he refuses to listen. With each murder, Mikiya discovers that the clues increasingly point to Shiki as the culprit. On February 3rd, he finally sees Shiki standing before a fresh corpse with his own eyes.

Shiki confronts Mikiya and asks why he didn’t report seeing her at the murder site. Mikiya simply tells her that he didn’t actually witness the murder itself and that he still believes in her. Afterwards, Shiki tries to ignore Mikiya completely, but he starts camping by her house every night to affirm his faith in her innocence. She gives him one final warning to stay away but he pays no heed.

That evening Shiki attacks Mikiya in the bamboo forest by her house. She eventually pins down the frantic Mikiya but cannot kill him. This part of the story ends inconclusively and we are taken to June of 1998 where Mikiya visits a comatose Shiki at the hospital which shortly leads to the events of the next movie, Remaining Sense of Pain.

Thoughts:
This installment felt like watching three episodes of .hack//Sign and Higurashi mashed together. It has the drawn out dialogue and imagery of .hack intertwined with a Higurashi-esque serial murder mystery plot (Yes I know Kara no Kyoukai is older than Higurashi. The Higurashi reference is just for comparison). Murder Speculation was interesting if slow paced; Some parts were more dragged out than necessary. Don’t be disappointed, all you action aficionados out there, because Remaining Sense of Pain looks to have more slicing and dicing goodness.

You’ll also appreciate the next movie more with the bits of information revealed so far in Murder Speculation. In other words, don’t even think about skipping this because it’s still required viewing. Murder Speculation was enjoyable enough but didn’t shine as brightly as Overlooking View.

Murder Speculation Part 1 gets 8/10 from me.