‘Trespassers’ (2024) Netflix Movie Review - A Mischievous Crime Film

Itaru Mizuno's Trespassers is such a mischievous crime film. It crosses every t and dots every i. Every character, every plot point fulfills its purpose. Nothing is left hanging or ambiguous. Bakarhythm's screenplay revels in introducing one complication after another. Mizuno, through his camera, shoots everything with playfulness. When you look back at the film, you realize that there is simplicity in the twists. At crucial moments, a new character is thrown into the mix, and we get a recap of the events through their unremarkable yet fun perspective. But while watching Trespassers, you don't care how the filmmakers achieve their motives. You simply enjoy the ludicrous things that occur in front of your eyes.

Initially, what sucks you into the story is the casual conversation between Akiko Tanaka (Rinko Kikuchi) and Megumi Ogawa (Kami Hiraiwa). The two of them work for a cleaning company, and one day, they start talking to each other about things like their low salaries so informally that they almost look like real people living real lives. Soon, the conversation shifts towards their boss's scandalous life. Her name is Natsumi Fujisaki (Mai Shiraishi). Megumi has heard some rumors about tax fraud and makes a plan with Akiko regarding stealing Natsumi's secret stash of money. Since two people won't be enough for such an operation, a third woman, Kanae Eto (Yô Yoshida), is asked to join the team.

Notice the kind of discussions the three women have before trespassing. They notice flaws in each other's outfits and comment on how the shoes do not match their disguise. Kikuchi, Hiraiwa, and Yoshida deliver their lines with such an amusing mixture of seriousness and naivety that I couldn't stop myself from laughing. They do more hilariously weird things inside Natsumi's apartment, the details of which I won't spoil. I won't even mention the other characters that get involved in the story. Trespassers is the kind of film that should be seen without prior information. The surprises leap out of the frame amusingly if you don't know what would or could happen in the next scene.

This is, of course, a rich vs poor film, though the commentary is laid out lightly. It shows how the poor turn on each other to prove themselves worthy in front of the rich. The movie also touches on our obsession with the life lived by the people who are cash-rich. Everybody criticizes them for their comfort, their wealth, though they also secretly wish they had access to such luxury. In the end, everybody wants money. Akiko, Megumi, and Kanae try to paint themselves as virtuous. They justify their crime by assuring themselves they will donate a part of the stolen money to the charity. However, it's clear they are as greedy as Natsumi. Trespassers is devilishly entertaining. It leaves you smiling.

Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times