Zero Focus

Zero Focus

1961 · 95 min · ★ 6.3 · Drama, Crime, Mystery

One week into newlywed Teiko Uhara's marriage, her husband, Kenichi, leaves on a short business trip and never returns. Teiko travels across Japan to search for him, and along the way discovers some surprising facts about her husband's past. With only a pair of old photographs among his belongings to go off of, Teiko tries to figure out what has happened to him.

Directed by Yoshitarō Nomura · Written by Yoshitarō Nomura

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

Criterion Channel

Cast

Make it a double feature

4h 23m together

Zero Focus

Flower and Dragon

Both from Yoshitarō Nomura.

More from Yoshitarō NomuraSee all →

The Street of DesireThe Street of Desire · 1984
The Street of Desire
10.01984
MovieDrama
A valet at a fancy nightclub hatches a plot to punish those responsible for his father's death.
Flower and DragonFlower and Dragon · 1973
Flower and Dragon
10.01973
MovieActionCrime
Kingoro Tamai moves with his wife and son to the port city of Wakamatsu. He organizes the Tamai-gumi, a stevedore group, to vie for work with two other powerful groups. Gingo is Tamai's chief rival who falls in love with the latter's wife and tries to kill Tamai.
Dancing Girls of IzuDancing Girls of Izu · 1954
Dancing Girls of Izu
9.01954
MovieDramaRomance
A dancer girl in a touring company met a high school boy in a port town. The story is about their first love that is very touching and sorrowful. An adaptation of the Kawabata Yasunari short story.
The Castle of SandThe Castle of Sand · 1974
The Castle of Sand
7.41974
MovieCrimeMystery
Two detectives are tasked to investigate the murder of an old man, found bludgeoned to death in a Tokyo rail yard.
The IncidentThe Incident · 1978
The Incident
7.21978
MovieDramaCrime
The body of Sakai Hatsuko, a woman of 23 who has been slain with a knife, has been found in a forest. Some days later, Ueda Hiroshi, a 19-year-old shipyard worker, is arrested and charged with the murder. At Ueda's trial, a complex story unfolds.
StakeoutStakeout · 1958
Stakeout
7.11958
MovieCrimeDrama
Two detectives begin a stakeout based on the slim chance of catching a murderer whom they suspect will try to reunite with an old flame.
The Perennial WeedThe Perennial Weed · 1975
The Perennial Weed
7.01975
MovieCrimeDrama
A detective wonders that his sister is a murder suspect.
SuspicionSuspicion · 1982
Suspicion
7.01982
MovieCrimeDrama
A car going at 25 mph plunges into the sea at Shinko Harbour, Toyama prefecture. Inside is the local business magnate Fukutaro Shirakawa, who perishes. Riding alongside him and surviving unhurt is his second wife, Kumako. It soon comes to light that Kumako’s husband was insured for 300 million yen and she is arrested on suspicion of murdering her husband for the insurance money. The newspapers denounce her as an evil woman, while the public is in no doubt about Kumako’s crime. Ritsuko Sahara is chosen as her defence attorney but the pair clash over almost everything...
Village of Eight GravestonesVillage of Eight Gravestones · 1977
Village of Eight Gravestones
7.01977
MovieThrillerHorror
The heir to a family fortune discovers that a curse has been placed on it, put there centuries before by a band of samurai warriors. Adaptation of novel by Seishi Yokomizo
Writhing TongueWrithing Tongue · 1980
Writhing Tongue
7.01980
MovieDramaHorror
Masako, a five-year-old girl living, gets a scratch on her finger. After that, she suffered horrible spasms. The doctor checks on her and arrives at the conclusion that she has tetanus. Her parents have to bear the sufferings of their child. The once peaceful family has changed completely.
The WickedThe Wicked · 1980
The Wicked
6.71980
MovieCrimeDrama
A selfish playboy uses rich women to pay off his debts. Divorcing his wife and marrying the woman he loves throws him into a spiral of destruction.
Final Take: The Golden Age of MoviesFinal Take: The Golden Age of Movies · 1986
Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies
6.61986
MovieDrama
Director Ogata discovers a new female star in Koharu Tanaka, who works selling candy at a studio theater and she is given a part as a bit player. After the studio's top leading lady is embroiled in a scandal, Koharu is suddenly thrust into the limelight when she replaces her in a film and gains instant fame and fortune. But the going is not always easy, and she soon seeks help from unexpected quarters.
The DemonThe Demon · 1978
The Demon
6.61978
MovieDramaCrime
When Sokichi stops providing his long-time lover Kikuyo enough money to pay for the care of their three young children, Kikuyo leaves the children with Sokichi - and his very surprised and angry wife Oume - and disappears.
Mount HakkodaMount Hakkoda · 1977
Mount Hakkoda
6.61977
MovieDramaHistory
Two infantry regiments of the Imperial Japanese Army—210 men overall—tackled Mt. Hakkoda in the winter of 1902 to prepare for war with Russia.
Amagi PassAmagi Pass · 1983
Amagi Pass
6.51983
MovieCrimeFantasy
Japan in the 1940s. A high school boy went into a magic encounter with Ozuka Hana, a geisha (pub-girl) when he traveled through Amagi Pass. A mysterious murder took place afterwards, an Ozuka was held responsible. 40 years later, the boy, who became a printing shop owner, was visited by a retired policeman who came from Amagi Pass. The truth then started to reveal itself.
The Shadow WithinThe Shadow Within · 1970
The Shadow Within
5.71970
MovieDramaThriller
When a married man begins an affair with a woman from his past, he comes to suspect her young son intends to murder him.

More Like This

DiaboliqueDiabolique · 1955
Diabolique
7.91955
MovieThrillerMystery
The cruel and abusive headmaster of a boarding school, Michel Delassalle, is murdered by an unlikely duo -- his meek wife and the mistress he brazenly flaunts. The women become increasingly unhinged by a series of odd occurrences after Delassalle's corpse mysteriously disappears.
In DreamsIn Dreams · 1999
In Dreams
5.51999
MovieMysteryThriller
A suburban housewife learns that she has psychic connections to a serial killer, and can predict this person's motives through her dreams.
A Kind of MurderA Kind of Murder · 2016
A Kind of Murder
5.42016
MovieDramaThriller
In 1960s New York, Walter Stackhouse is a rich, successful architect and unhappily married to the beautiful but damaged Clara. His desire to be free of her feeds his obsession with Kimmel, a man suspected of brutally murdering his own wife. When Walter and Kimmel's lives become dangerously intertwined, a ruthless police detective becomes convinced he has found the murderer. But as the lines blur between innocence and intent, who, in fact, is the real killer?
Still of the NightStill of the Night · 1982
Still of the Night
5.71982
MovieThrillerDrama
When one of his patients is found murdered, psychiatrist Dr. Sam Rice is visited by the investigating officer but refuses to give up any information. He's then visited by the patient's mistress, Brooke Reynolds, whom he quickly falls for despite her being a likely murder suspect. As the police pressure on him intensifies, Rice decides to attempt solving the case on his own and soon discovers that someone is trying to kill him as well.
ScissorsScissors · 1991
Scissors
5.01991
MovieDramaThriller
A woman trying to recover from a sexual attack is locked in a posh apartment with a corpse of the very man she's been dreaming would murder her. She tries to hang on to reality when objects around her seem to come to life.
Dressed to KillDressed to Kill · 1980
Dressed to Kill
6.91980
MovieThrillerMystery
After witnessing a mysterious woman brutally slay a homemaker, prostitute Liz Blake finds herself trapped in a dangerous situation. While the police thinks she is the murderer, the real killer is intent on silencing her only witness.
Dead AgainDead Again · 1991
Dead Again
6.41991
MovieMysteryThriller
In 1949, composer Roman Strauss is executed for the murder of his wife. In 1990s Los Angeles, a detective comes across a mute amnesiac woman who is somehow linked to the Strauss murder.
Broken EmbracesBroken Embraces · 2009
Broken Embraces
7.22009
MovieDramaRomance
Harry Caine, a blind writer, reaches this moment in time when he has to heal his wounds from 14 years back. He was then still known by his real name, Mateo Blanco, and directing his last movie.
Purple NoonPurple Noon · 1960
Purple Noon
7.61960
MovieCrimeDrama
Tom Ripley is a talented mimic, moocher, forger and all-around criminal improviser; but there's more to Tom Ripley than even he can guess.
NiagaraNiagara · 1953
Niagara
6.81953
MovieCrimeThriller
Rose Loomis and her older, gloomier husband, George, are vacationing at a cabin in Niagara Falls. The couple befriend Polly and Ray Cutler, who are honeymooning in the area. Polly begins to suspect that something is amiss between Rose and George, and her suspicions grow when she sees Rose in the arms of another man. While Ray initially thinks Polly is overreacting, things between George and Rose soon take a shockingly dark turn.
Dark PassageDark Passage · 1947
Dark Passage
7.31947
MovieThrillerMystery
A man convicted of murdering his wife escapes from prison and works with a woman to try and prove his innocence.
Rear WindowRear Window · 1998
Rear Window
5.41998
MovieDramaThriller
Jason Kemp, a recently paralyzed architect, lives in a high-tech apartment filled with assistive technology. As a quadriplegic confined to his home, he passes the long hours by spying on his neighbors from his apartment window. His innocent pastime takes a deadly turn when he believes he witnesses a murder. Determined to uncover the truth, Jason continues to dig deeper - eventually finding himself locked in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
High AnxietyHigh Anxiety · 1977
High Anxiety
6.41977
MovieComedyMystery
A psychiatrist with intense acrophobia (fear of heights) goes to work for a mental institution run by doctors who appear to be crazier than their patients, and have secrets that they are willing to commit murder to keep.
CharadeCharade · 1963
Charade
7.71963
MovieComedyMystery
After Regina Lampert falls for the dashing Peter Joshua on a skiing holiday in the French Alps, she discovers upon her return to Paris that her husband has been murdered. Soon, she and Peter are giving chase to three of her late husband's World War II cronies, Tex, Scobie and Gideon, who are after a quarter of a million dollars the quartet stole while behind enemy lines.
The Bedroom WindowThe Bedroom Window · 1987
The Bedroom Window
6.31987
MovieDramaThriller
Baltimore, Maryland. Sylvia sees a girl being attacked from her lover Terry's bedroom window. The assailant flees and his victim is saved. But that same night another girl is found murdered.
Last EmbraceLast Embrace · 1979
Last Embrace
5.41979
MovieThrillerMystery
Secret agent Harry Hannan suffers a mental breakdown when a botched mission in Mexico results in the death of his wife. He is sent to a mental asylum, after which he eventually returns to work. But, once again, he begins to doubt his sanity when he receives a bizarre death threat written in Hebrew. Not knowing which of his colleagues wants to kill him, Hannan teams up with pretty young college student Ellie Fabian to attempt to unravel the mystery.
The 9th Life of Louis DraxThe 9th Life of Louis Drax · 2016
The 9th Life of Louis Drax
6.42016
MovieMysteryThriller
A psychologist who begins working with a young boy who has suffered a near-fatal fall finds himself drawn into a mystery that tests the boundaries of fantasy and reality.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter