ColinJ
8/10A visual and emotional sledghammer of a movie.
Reviewed on February 16, 2017
The World of Kanako(2014)
渇き。
Say goodbye to reason.
6.4(229)1h 58m2014-07-04
MysteryCrimeThriller
The World of Kanako Synopsis
When Kanako, a model daughter and a brilliant student, disappears, her mother asks her ex-husband, a violent former policeman, to find her. As his investigation progresses, his idealized image of Kanako cracks: the girl hides a dark life that her father can not even imagine.
The World of Kanako (2014) is a mystery, crime and thriller film directed by Tetsuya Nakashima, released on July 4, 2014 with a runtime of 1h 58m. It stars Koji Yakusho, Nana Komatsu, Hiroya Shimizu and Satoshi Tsumabuki. Viewers rate it 6.4 out of 10 across 229 ratings.
- Director:
- Tetsuya Nakashima
- Writers:
- Nobuhiro Monma, Miako Tadano, Tetsuya Nakashima
- Producers:
- Satomi Odake, Yutaka Suzuki
- Cinematographer:
- Shôichi Atô
- Composer:
- Yoko Kanno
- Production:
- GYAO, Licri, GAGA Corporation
- Revenue:
- $6,457,479
- Status:
- Released
The World of Kanako (2014) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for The World of Kanako before you stream it.
The World of Kanako Cast & Crew
Main cast
Koji Yakusho
as Akikazu Fujishima
Nana Komatsu
as Kanako Fujishima
Hiroya Shimizu
as I / Narrator
Satoshi Tsumabuki
as Detective Asai
Joe Odagiri
as Detective Aikawa
Asuka Kurosawa
as Kiriko Fujishima
Jun Kunimura
as Dr. Tsujimura
Munetaka Aoki
as Sakiyama
Megumi Hatachiya
as Detective Aikawa's Wife
Ai Hashimoto
as Morishita
Fumi Nikaido
as Nami Endo
Miki Nakatani
as Rie Azuma
Key crew
Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima, written by Nobuhiro Monma, Miako Tadano and Tetsuya Nakashima, produced by Satomi Odake and Yutaka Suzuki.
Explore more Mystery titles
The World of Kanako Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 6.4/10 from 229 ratings.
Alunauwie
9/10The World of Kanako, adapted from Akio Fukamachi’s novel Endless Thirst, delivers a disturbing yet powerful portrayal of teenage darkness and broken families. With its non-linear narrative and intense visuals, the film demands full attention, as its fragmented structure gradually reveals the emotional depth behind Kanako’s seemingly perfect facade. Though some editing choices and plot logic feel inconsistent, the…
Reviewed on September 23, 2025
You may also like
6.8
Outrage Coda
2017
6.4
Dead or Alive
1999
7.1
The Yakuza
1974
5.9
Righteous Kill
2008
7.1
Brother
2000
6.3
6 Bullets
2012
6.5
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
1974
7.0
Hell Dogs
2022
7.8
Shoplifters
2018
6.4
The Clovehitch Killer
2018
6.5
Kiss the Girls
1997
5.9
12 Rounds
2009
6.1
Inside Man
2023
5.9
Destroyer
2018
6.2
The Outsider
2018
6.2
Body Cam
2020
6.9
Outrage
2010
5.8
The Ritual Killer
2023
7.2
Violent Cop
1989
5.8
The Forger
2014
Movies similar to The World of Kanako
8.2
Memento
2000
8.0
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
2003
6.7
Absolute Power
1997
8.1
Taxi Driver
1976
7.4
Bad Education
2004
7.8
Donnie Darko
2001
7.0
House of Gamblers
1970
10.0
Examinación cruzada
2024
4.2
Trail of Passion
2003
10.0
Screw Loose
2020
6.5
Crash
1996
7.9
Heat
1995
Talk to the Gun
2022
Cocaina: Vicio Mortal
1989
7.6
Godzilla
1954
7.1
Traffic
2000
6.8
Vanilla Sky
2001
3.5
Amped
2004
7.6
Laura
1944
7.2
Bunny Lake Is Missing
1965
The World of Kanako – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The World of Kanako online?
+
The World of Kanako (2014) is available to stream on Fandor, Hi-YAH and ARROW, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in The World of Kanako?
+
The main cast of The World of Kanako (2014) includes Koji Yakusho, Nana Komatsu, Hiroya Shimizu, Satoshi Tsumabuki and Joe Odagiri. The film was directed by Tetsuya Nakashima. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was The World of Kanako released?
+
The World of Kanako was released on July 4, 2014 and runs for 1h 58m.
Is The World of Kanako worth watching?
+
The World of Kanako (2014) holds an average rating of 6.4 out of 10 from 229 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy mystery, crime and thriller films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for The World of Kanako?
+
Yes. The official The World of Kanako trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.