History Film / MemoirsOfAMurderer

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Wataru and Masato finally solve the Tokyo Strangler case, arresting Toshio in the process, The two finally receives closure over Rika's death, while Miharu apologizes for her attempt to kill Masato, knowing the truth once and for all. Unfortunately, that does not erase the continued grief that the Tokyo Strangler victims will go through for the rest of his life, while Toshio plans to write a memoir of his crimes. However, {{the stinger}} shows that Toshio does not achieve that dream]].
* BoobyTrap: In 1995, Makimura and Taki go to the former's apartment to find a new body that the Tokyo Strangler told them about. However, Taki is caught in a prepared noose, and tries to pull on it to escape. Unfortunately, this ignites a propane bottle, blowing up the place. And Taki wasn't even the intended target; rather, Makimura was.

* ChekhovsGunman: Jo, the Yakuza gang member with piercings, tries to shoot Masato at a book signing. He fails, and disappears from the movie [[spoiler:until {{the stinger}}, where he finally gets his revenge on the real killer]].

** Makimura's story is shown at the beginning. He was just a cop trying to catch the Tokyo Strangler, but had his mouth mutilated by him during a chase, which led to the death of his partner, Taki. His guilt towards failing to catch the killer got worse after the statute of limitations passed.
** For Masato, it isn't revealed until the end of the second act, by Makimura. [[spoiler:When he used to be Takumi Onodera, he was planning to marry Rika after the two survived the 1995 Kobe earthquake. But this all changed when she suddenly disappeared, and, unable to live with her loss, tried to commit suicide. This failed, and after more [[BungledSuicide bungled suicides]], he finally changes his entire identity to catch whoever took Rika away from him]].

* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: When you compare the flashbacks to the present scenes, Wataru has shorter hair in the latter. This is to demonstrate his frustrations at not having caught the Tokyo Strangler sooner.
* ForcedToWatch: One of the Tokyo Strangler's modi operandi is to kill his victim in front of the latter's loved one. This is also the reason why the murderer does what he does: [[spoiler:he watched his friend getting suffocated by terrorists]].

** Before Makimura and Taki go in the former's apartment to seek the next victim's body of the Tokyo Strangler, Taki stops Makimura from going in, having smelt gas. It hints at the {{booby trap}} the Tokyo Strangler has set up: a noose that will blow up a propane bottle if pulled on.

* HereWeGoAgain: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]] [[spoiler:After Toshio is caught as the Tokyo Strangler, he muses on his murderous experiences, confessing that he would like to write a book about it. From the movie's final shot of his upcoming memoir, "Into the Abyss", it appears that he will be famous like Masato. But {{the stinger}} puts the kibosh on that...]]

* MagicPlasticSurgery: An important plot point. [[spoiler:Takumi chooses to have plastic surgery so that he can pretend to be the Tokyo Strangler and catch the real one. This is how he became Masato Sonezaki]].

** And it also runs in Wataru's family, as well. His sister, Rika, formerly worked in a Kobe hospital, [[SurvivorsGuilt and had this to say after she survived an earthquake there]].

* NeverTrustATrailer: Let's just say the marketing campaign was just as misleading as the movie. [[spoiler:Every trailer attempted to convince you that the story was a cat-and-mouse game where a detective attempts to recapture a criminal who has the power of the media at his side. This only happens for the film's first half, since the rest tears that away completely. This is due to the reveal of these two men being secret allies trying to identify and catch the real murderer]].
* OnceMoreWithClarity: Earlier in the movie, Masato whispered something inaudible to Makimura while surrounded by the press, which angered him to the point of lunging towards Masato. But when the film later repeats this scene, it turns out that [[spoiler:Masato told Makimura to hit him immediately, so that the two could pretend to be fighting against each other, when it was anything but]].

** When Wataru, Masato and the man claiming to be the real Tokyo Strangler attend Toshio's televised interview, all four of them sit at a table shaped like an eye. This represents how the three guests are about to learn more about the inpending truth about the Tokyo Strangler.
** The final confrontation has Makimura [[spoiler:warning Masato against killing Toshio, since it won't make him feel better about Rika's death. This leads to a teary-eyed Masato staring at the video of Rika's murder, with the next camera shot showing the reflections of the TV screen. These reflections show Masato still holding the rope to strangle Toshio, but now, it looks like the rope is connected to Rika's neck. He is essentially on the cusp of becoming the Tokyo Strangler and dishonoring the memory of the one he loved]].

* ScarsAreForever: Wataru still bores the knife scar on his right mouth in the present day, after the Tokyo Strangler inflicted the wound when he was young.
* SeekingTheMissingFindingTheDead: [[spoiler:Rika]] became missing during the time of the Tokyo Strangler murders. Coincidental, right? It wasn't, as a recording is released, showing [[spoiler:her murder at the hands of the Tokyo Strangler]].

* SurvivorsGuilt: A theme of the movie. The victims live on with regrets over their loved ones dying instead of them. That also applies to Rika, who feels guilty over not saving more lives in the 1995 Kobe earthquake, while [[spoiler:Toshio watched a fellow German friend and photographer being murdered in front of him, driving him to kill as the Tokyo Strangler]].
* ThatManIsDead: At the end of the movie, [[spoiler:Masato turns around to say goodbye to Wataru. As he does, Wataru imagines that the person in front of him is Takumi instead. This hammers home to the audience that Takumi essentially "died" in the suicide attempt despite his survival, replaced by someone else entirely]].
* ThePenIsMightier: It is quoted by Toshio about his lucky pen. It becomes a crucial plot point later on when [[spoiler:Masato tries to attack the "real" Tokyo Strangler with that pen. After Toshio is revealed to be ''the'' Tokyo Strangler, Masato remarks that he wanted him to lash out with the pen, to make himself appear more guilty]].

** Masato presents himself as such, when he declares himself as the Tokyo Strangler to the wide world. His memoir becomes popular to read, photoshoots of him take place, and readily attends countless book signings. And while some people are not happy about his past deeds, some praise him for his honest attitude and willingness to atone for his crimes.

** The final confrontation has Makimura [[spoiler:warning Masato against killing Toshio, since it won't make him feel better about Rika's death. This leads to a teary-eyed Masato staring at the video of Rika's murder, with the next camera shot showing the reflections of the TV screen. These reflections show Masato still holding the rope to strangle Toshio, but now, it looks like the rope is connected to Rika's neck. He is essentially on the cusp of becoming the Tokyo Strangler, potentially dishonoring the memory of the one he loved]].

In 1995, the "Tokyo Strangler" suffocates 5 people, drawing the attention of the police. After countless attempts to expose him, the 15-year statute of limitations passes in 2010, protecting the criminal from conviction and abruptly shutting down the police's investigation. 7 years later, a man named Masato Sonezaki (Tatsuya Fujiwara) publicly comes forward with a memoir about his crimes, revealing himself as the killer. The media believes him, which makes Masato an overnight celebrity. In response, the detective who failed to arrest him, Wataru Makimura (Hideaki Itō), seeks justice for the grief-stricken families of those victims.

In 1995, the "Tokyo Strangler" suffocates 5 people, drawing the attention of the police. After countless attempts to expose him, the 15-year statute of limitations passes in 2010, protecting the criminal from conviction and abruptly shutting down the police's investigation. 7 years later, a man named Masato Sonezaki (Tatsuya Fujiwara) publicly comes forward with a memoir about his crimes, revealing himself as the killer. While the media believes these words and increases his popularity, the detective who failed to arrest him, Wataru Makimura (Hideaki Itō), seeks justice for the grief-stricken victims.

In 1995, the "Tokyo Strangler" suffocates 5 people, drawing the attention of the police. After countless attempts to expose him, the 15-year statute of limitations passes in 2010, protecting the criminal from conviction and abruptly shutting down the police's investigation. 7 years later, a man named Masato Sonezaki publicly comes forward with a memoir about his crimes, revealing himself as the killer. While the media believes these words and increases his popularity, the detective who failed to arrest him, Wataru Makimura, seeks justice for the grief-stricken victims.

* TheStinger: A mid-credits scene shows [[spoiler:Toshio being taken to his room in a mental health facility. Unfortunately for him, Jo has secretly snuck in the building, who runs towards Toshio with a knife. A stabbing sound is heard, all but confirming the murderer's death]].

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Wataru and Masato finally solve the Tokyo Strangler case, arresting Toshio in the process, The two to finally receive closure over Rika's death, while Miharu apologizes for her attempt to kill Masato, knowing the truth once and for all. Unfortunately, that does not erase the continued grief that the Tokyo Strangler victims will go through for the rest of his life, while Toshio plans to write a memoir of his crimes. However, {{the stinger}} shows that Toshio does not achieve that dream]].

** When [[spoiler:Rika's murder video]] is shown to Toshio, Masato and Wataru, there is a building of interest seen on the left. It's the Tokyo Tower, which is clearly illuminated in the night sky. Camera cuts show that [[spoiler:the building's lights are on at one moment, and off the next, during Rika's last throes of life. In reality, the Tokyo Tower usually turns its lights off at midnight. Since Rika's death happened the next day, this meant that the 15-year statute of limitations law can be applied to this killing. This allows the real killer to be incarcerated for good]].

* DrivenToSuicide: Flashbacks show that Takumi chooses to kill himself after [[spoiler: his girlfriend, Rika]], goes missing for too long. [[spoiler:However, it turns out to be a {{bungled suicide}}]].

** Before Makimura and Taki go in the former's apartment to seek the next victim's body of the Tokyo Strangler, Taki stops Makimura from going in, having smelt gas. It hints at the {{booby trap}} the Tokyo Strangler has set up: a noose that will cause a propane bottle to explode if pulled on.

* NeverTrustATrailer: Let's just say the marketing campaign was just as misleading as the movie. [[spoiler:Every trailer attempted to convince you that the story was a cat-and-mouse game where a detective attempts to recapture a criminal who has the power of the media at his side. While it's like this for the first half, the second half tears that away completely, revealing that these two men were secret allies trying to identify and catch the real murderer]].

* HereWeGoAgain: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]] [[spoiler:After Toshio is caught as the Tokyo Strangler, he muses on his experiences as the Tokyo Strangler, confessing that he would like to write a book about it. From the movie's final shot of his upcoming memoir, "Into the Abyss", it appears that he will be famous like Masato. But {{the stinger}} puts the kibosh on that...]]

** Not a day goes by where Wataru blames himself for not catching the Tokyo Strangler in 1995.

* StrikeMeDownWithAllYourHatred: [[spoiler:Toshio practically ''begs'' Masato to choke him harder and avenge Rika, so that he can corrupt the latter. It takes Wataru's intervention to subvert this]].

In 1995, the "Tokyo Strangler" suffocates 5 people, drawing the attention of the police. After countless attempts to arrest him, the 15-year statute of limitations passes in 2010, protecting the criminal from conviction and abruptly shutting down the police's investigation. 7 years later, a man named Masato Sonezaki publicly comes forward with a memoir about his crimes, revealing himself as the killer. While the media believes these words and increases his popularity, the detective who failed to catch him, Wataru Makimura, seeks justice for the grief-stricken victims.

* GoodAllAlong: [[spoiler:Masato isn't the Tokyo Strangler, but rather a bereaved man who wanted answers about the disappearance of his girlfriend]].

* NeverTrustATrailer: Let's just say the marketing campaign was just as misleading as the movie. [[spoiler:Every trailer attempted to convince you that the story was a cat-and-mouse game where a detective attempts to recapture a criminal who has the power of the media at his side. While it's like this for the first half, the second half tears that away completely, revealing that these two men were secret allies trying to take down the real murderer]].

** When Wataru, Masato and the man claiming to be the real Tokyo Strangler attend Toshio's televised interview, all four of them sit at an elegantly designed table. It is shaped like an eye, representing how the three guests are about to tell or discover the truth about the five murders.

* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim: [[spoiler:As Masato is strangling Toshio for Rika's murder, Wataru pleads for Masato to stop his revenge, claiming that Rika won't be brought back if he goes through with it. This works]].

** The final confrontation has Makimura [[spoiler:warning Masato against killing Toshio, since it won't bring back Rika. This leads to a teary-eyed Masato staring at the video of Rika's murder, with the next camera shot showing the reflections of the TV screen. These reflections show Masato still holding the rope to strangle Toshio, but now, it looks like the rope is connected to Rika's neck. He is essentially on the cusp of becoming the Tokyo Strangler, potentially dishonoring the memory of the one he loved]].

** The final confrontation has Makimura [[spoiler:warning Masato against killing Toshio, since it won't bring back Rika. This leads to a teary-eyed Masato staring at the video of Rika's murder, with the next camera shot showing the reflections of the TV screen. These reflections show Masato still holding the rope to strangle Toshio, but now, it looks like the rope is connected to Rika's neck. He is essentially on the cusp of becoming the Tokyo Strangler himself]].

* SurvivorsGuilt: A theme of the movie. The victims live on with regrets over their loved ones dying instead of them. That also applies to Rika, who feels guilty over not saving more lives in the 1995 Kobe earthquake, while [[spoiler:Toshio watched a fellow German friend and photographer being murdered in front of him, driving him to kill as thr Tokyo Strangler]].

** And it also runs in Wataru's family, as well. His sister, Rika, is a nurse. [[SurvivorsGuilt And she has this to say as a survivor of the 1995 Kobe earthquake:]]

* SurvivorsGuilt: A theme of the movie. The victims live on with regrets over their loved ones dying instead of them. That also applies to [[spoiler:Toshio, where a fellow German friend and photographer was murdered in front of his eyes. The idea of him surviving instead of his friend haunted him to the point of murder]].

* HereWeGoAgain: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]] [[spoiler:After Toshio is caught as the Tokyo Strangler, he muses on his motivations as the Tokyo Strangler, confessing that he would like to write a book about his murderous experiences. From the movie's final shot of his upcoming memoir, "Into the Abyss", being advertised, it appears that he will still become famous for his honesty, like Masato before him. But {{the stinger}} puts the kibosh on that...]]

* RuleOfSymbolism: When Wataru, Masato and the man claiming to be the real Tokyo Strangler attend Toshio's televised interview, all four of them sit at an elegantly designed table. It is shaped like an eye, representing how the three guests are about to tell or discover the truth about the five murders.

* ButNowIMustGo: After everything is said and done, [[spoiler:Masato]] decides to leave for places unknowns.

* ButNowIMustGo: After everything is said and done, [[spoiler:Masato decides to leave for places unknown]].

** When [[spoiler:Rika's murder video]] is shown to Toshio, Masato and Wataru, there is a building of interest seen on the left. It's the Tokyo Tower, which is clearly illuminated in the night sky. Camera cuts show that [[spoiler:the light is on at one moment, and off the next, during Rika's last throes of life. In reality, the Tokyo Tower usually turns its lights off at midnight. Since Rika's death happened the next day, this meant that the 15-year statute of limitations law can be applied to this killing. This allows the real killer to be incarcerated for good]].

** Masato is crying after Toshio yells at him to tell the truth about the 1995 murders.

* DrivenToSuicide: Flashbacks show that Takumi chooses to kill himself after [[spoiler: his girlfriend, Rika]], goes missing for too long. [[spoiler:However, it turns out to be a {{bungled suicide}}.]].

*** This segues into a series of flashbacks that show how [[spoiler:Takumi transformed into Masato]]. In the hospital, [[spoiler:a severely injured Takumi tells Wataru what he wants to do next after many failed suicide attempts]].

In 1995, a man killed five people through strangling them with ropes. This murderer would be known by the media as the "Tokyo Strangler", a person who constantly eluded the police's grasp. After countless failed attempts to arrest him, the 15-year statute of limitations passes in 2010, protecting the criminal from conviction and abruptly shutting down the police's investigation. 7 years later, a man named Masato Sonezaki comes forward with a memoir about his crimes, revealing himself as the killer in the eyes of many. While the public believes these words, the detective who failed to catch him, Wataru Makimura, becomes determined as ever to seek justice for the grief-stricken victims. But how can he do that when the media continues to make his popularity grow?