Perfect Blue is a Scary Psychological Study of the Fear of Being a Celebrity

Perfect Blue is probably the best standalone anime that left me feeling disturbed and wondering what the hell I just watched. I also think that this anime delivers a perfect view with how being a celebrity can take a toll on anybody, leading to a psychological downfall of confusion and terror.

Mima is the main character of this tale, a young woman who decides to leave her pop star career behind to become an actor.

This decision leads to Mima finding herself in a journey of pure horror, as she fights her mind to figure out what is real or not, while dealing with a killer going after the people who are helping to fuel her acting career.

And if you think that is already bad enough, Mima also has a stalker.

The stalker is completely infatuated with Mima, going as far to get into physical fights for her, even though she has no idea of his existence. Poor Mima is dealing with so much, but at least she has her agent to look after her. Mima has a bond with Rumi, her agent that truly cares for her, and even though she isn't happy with the controversial acting role Mima is currently in, she supports Mima no matter what.

People involved in Mima's acting journey or who tarnished her image in any way, were all murdered in horrific ways. During her episodes of trying to figure out what is real and what isn't real, Mima starts to wonder if she is actually the killer. She even starts to see herself, mocking her for leaving behind her pop star career.

Then Mima is confronted by the stalker.

Her stalker attempts to harm her after kidnapping her, but Mima shocks him by fighting back, and she runs away. She finds her agent, and she looks after her, concern in her voice. Mima wakes up in her room, but she realizes that she is no longer in her bedroom.

She is confronted by Rumi, who is dressed up like her pop star self. Mima freaks out over how strange Rumi is acting, and Rumi suddenly attacks her, telling her that she must kill the 'evil Mima.'

Mima and Rumi get into a fight to the death.

Rumi attacks Mima with a knife, and Mima ends up stabbed, but she is able to fight off Rumi and make a run for it outside. Rumi relentlessly goes after her, determined to kill Mima. Rumi goes back and forth resembling Mima, the fight taking on a psychological standpoint for Mima. At some point during the fight, Mima accidentally removes Rumi's wig. She freaks out, and attempts to get back the wig, wanting to return back to her personality of 'Pop Star Mima.'

She stabs herself through the stomach from a piece of glass trying to get the wig back, and she wanders to the road, smiles at Mima, covering her face with blood, now looking like Mima's pop star self again. A car is heading down the road toward Rumi, and Mima saves her, throwing herself against her agent.

Time passes, and Mima goes to visit Rumi, now staying in a psychiatric hospital. Rumi is suffering from a mental illness, believing that she is actually Mima. She had snapped once Mima chose a different career path, and became a killer.

The film ends with Mima hearing two employees saying that Mima looks like that famous actress. Mima proudly states that she is the real one.

Your mind will be left reeling after watching every single scene throughout the film. It is confusing as hell in the best way possible. I don’t think I have seen a film all over the place in a good light since Memento.

I can’t believe I barely watched this film when I was in my last year of college. It was October, and I was watching horror movies every day of the month. Perfect Blue was one of my choices, and I was left in shock and awe.

I loved how scary the film was when it came to the horror aspects of the film, and it felt like I was watching a live-action horror movie.

So yes, Perfect Blue is perfect.

Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn