Awful news this morning, as Dread is saddened to report that Ryū Murakami, author of the novel Audition, has passed away.

Murakami passed in his home on October 17th, reports The Guardian. He was 74.

The outlet learned of the news from Murakami’s Japanese publisher, Gentosha.

Murakami wrote more than 40 novels and short story collections. His most popular among them, at least with horror fans, is Audition. The novel follows a lonely film producer who holds a fake casting audition to find a date, with dire consequences.

Takashi Miike adapted the book in 2000 with his film of the same name.

Miike’s Audition immediately gained cult status as a terrifying, tragic tale with a dismemberment scene for the ages (ti-ti-ti-ti-ti). I’d imagine there are quite a few film fans who credit Audition as the one that led them to more of Miike’s work. I should know. I was one of them. Yet so much of that has to do with Murakami’s powerful and unforgettable story that created a horror icon in Asami (played by Eihi Shiina).

Along with Ring, Audition was one of my introductions to Japanese horror. And it had me searching for every Japanese horror title I could find after. Murakami crafts that rare genre tale that not only scares the living shit out of you, but breaks your heart in the process. It’s loaded with all sorts of dark and disturbing themes in a story that twists and turns into more and more horrific territory.

At the center of it all is Asami, a sympathetic horror “villain” who’s more the victim of the protagonist/actual villain, Aoyama. She’s a woman scorned, enacting what she views as justice on abusive men who lie and/or take advantage of her. Over twenty years later, fans continue to reference her as the electrifying symbol of female rage that she is.

Through Audition and other beloved works, Murakami’s influence has been massive. He was an extraordinary talent who will be greatly missed.

Our hearts go out to Murakami’s friends, family, and fans.

Tags:Audition Ryu Murakami

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