ATARU: The First Love & The Last Kill
ATARU: The First Love & The Last Kill is a 2013 Japanese mystery-thriller film directed by Hisashi Kimura. It serves as a cinematic continuation of the ATARU television series, which originally aired on TBS in 2012. The film stars Masahiro Nakai, who reprises his role as the titular character, Ataru, alongside Maki Horikita, who portrays a new character named Madoka.
Plot
The narrative centers on the encounter between Ataru and a woman named Madoka. Both characters possess extraordinary memory and deductive reasoning abilities. The mystery unfolds as their paths cross, leading to a complex investigation.
Production
The production involved international filming locations in the United States. Between June 4 and June 9, 2013, the crew conducted shoots in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Los Angeles, California. The Las Vegas segment included locations such as the Bellagio Hotel and the U.S. 95 highway. In Los Angeles, filming took place at various sites, including Route 66, a church in Lancaster, and the University of Southern California, which served as the setting for the Virginia State Police Station. The film's climax was specifically shot in the United States. A total of 131 staff members participated in the U.S. production, comprising 56 Japanese and 75 American crew members. Principal photography concluded in July 2013.
Cast
- Masahiro Nakai as Ataru
- Maki Horikita as Madoka
- Kazuki Kitamura as Shunichi Sawa
- Chiaki Kuriyama as Maiko Ebina
- Yuta Tamamori as Sho Ebina
- Yasuko Matsuyuki as Aio Hoshi
- Masaki Okada as Tasuku Inoguchi
- Masachika Ichimura as Makoto Inoguchi
