Cold Fish

Nobuyuki Shamoto is a quiet man who runs a small tropical fish shop in Shizuoka, Japan. His home life is unhappy. His teenage daughter Mitsuko is rude and violent, especially toward his second wife, Taeko. One day, Mitsuko is caught stealing from a supermarket. A stranger named Yukio Murata steps in, convinces the store manager to let her go, and then invites Nobuyuki and his family to visit his much larger fish shop. Murata is cheerful, loud, and friendly. He offers Mitsuko a job and suggests that he and Nobuyuki should become business partners. Nobuyuki feels grateful and slowly becomes involved in Murata’s business.

At first, everything seems exciting and new. Murata introduces Nobuyuki to expensive fish, new clients, and the idea of making more money. But soon, things take a dark turn. Murata and his wife Aiko are actually serial killers. They run their fish business as a front to scam, kill, and get rid of people they see as threats. Murata begins to force Nobuyuki to help him hide bodies and clean up after murders. He uses pressure, flattery, and fear to control him. Nobuyuki becomes more afraid and trapped, and he starts losing his sense of right and wrong. Meanwhile, Mitsuko seems to be adjusting to life at Murata’s shop, but Nobuyuki does not know what is really happening to her.

By the end of the story, Nobuyuki has become deeply involved in Murata’s crimes and feels he has no way out. After being humiliated and pushed too far, he finally snaps and kills Murata. But by then, the damage is already done. He has lost control of his life, his family is broken, and he has blood on his hands. The film ends with Nobuyuki standing alone, covered in blood, completely changed from the man he was at the beginning.

Last Updated: August 09, 2025 at 18:37