# Siren (2006 film)

**Siren** (サイレン, *Sairen*), also released as **Forbidden Siren**, is a 2006 [Japanese horror](https://www.edgepedia.org/japanese-horror) film directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi and based on the [PlayStation 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-2) survival horror game series *Siren*. It was distributed by Toho and released in Japan on February 11, 2006, with a running time of 87 minutes.<sup>[1](https://natalie.mu/eiga/film/144797)</sup> The film stars Yui Ichikawa in her first lead film role, supported by Leo Morimoto, Naoki Tanaka, Hiroshi Abe, Naomi Nishida, Suzuki Matsuo, and Kyūsaku Shimada.<sup>[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494815)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original title | サイレン (*Sairen*), marketed as サイレン FORBIDDEN SIREN<sup>[1](https://natalie.mu/eiga/film/144797)</sup> |
| Release | February 11, 2006 (Japan), distributed by Toho; 87 minutes<sup>[1](https://natalie.mu/eiga/film/144797)</sup> |
| Director / writer | Yukihiko Tsutsumi; screenplay by Naoya Takayama<sup>[3](https://www.cinematoday.jp/movie/T0004038)</sup> |
| Source material | The PlayStation 2 horror game series *Siren*; promotional material describes it as built on *SIREN2*<sup>[1](https://natalie.mu/eiga/film/144797)</sup> |
| Lead cast | Yui Ichikawa (Yuki Amamoto), Leo Morimoto, Naoki Tanaka, Hiroshi Abe<sup>[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494815)</sup> |
| Filming location | On location on Hachijōjima<sup>[1](https://natalie.mu/eiga/film/144797)</sup> |
| Audience rating | 5.4/10 on IMDb from about 1,100 users<sup>[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494815)</sup> |

## Spoilers

### Plot

The story is set on Yami-jima (夜美島), a small island where, in 1976, every inhabitant vanished overnight along with the sound of a mysterious siren. The case was never solved and faded into obscurity. Twenty-nine years later, Yuki Amamoto moves to the island with her father, a freelance writer, and her younger brother Hideo, who is relocating for his health. A neighbor warns her of the island's rules, above all: do not go outside when the siren sounds. Yuki is gradually drawn into the island's strange phenomena and terrifying events.<sup>[3](https://www.cinematoday.jp/movie/T0004038)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.allcinema.net/cinema/pdf/323470)</sup>

Promotional material emphasized the "terror of sound" surrounding the siren and promised a three-act twist ending.<sup>[3](https://www.cinematoday.jp/movie/T0004038)</sup>

## Production and release

Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, known for the television series *Keizoku* and *Trick*, was attached to the project as a psycho-thriller built on the popular game *SIREN2*, with location shooting on Hachijōjima.<sup>[1](https://natalie.mu/eiga/film/144797)</sup> The screenplay was written by Naoya Takayama and the music was composed by Kunio Haishima.<sup>[3](https://www.cinematoday.jp/movie/T0004038)</sup> The film was produced by the Movie "Siren" Production Committee and distributed by Toho.<sup>[1](https://natalie.mu/eiga/film/144797)</sup>

The release was timed to coincide with the release of *Siren 2* for the PlayStation 2; a contemporary report noted that the film had been "quietly released in Japan a few weeks ago" as of late February 2006.<sup>[5](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2006/02/2988/)</sup> A DVD standard edition was released on September 22, 2006, with [Dolby Digital](https://www.edgepedia.org/dolby-digital) and DTS 5.1 soundtracks, marketed as a "sound psycho" DVD in keeping with the film's emphasis on audio.<sup>[6](https://www.neowing.co.jp/product/TDV-16186D)</sup>

## Relation to the game

The source game, *Siren* (released in Japan in November 2003 and in North America in April 2004), is a survival horror title developed by SCE Japan Studio in the tradition of the *Silent Hill* series, set in a Japanese village where the sea has turned blood red and inhabitants are mutating into creatures.<sup>[7](https://www.metacritic.com/game/siren/?ftag=MCD-06-10aaa1c)</sup> The film takes inspiration from the games but tells its own story: a Japanese review notes that although it draws some settings from *SIREN* and *SIREN 2*, the story is entirely original.<sup>[8](https://filmarks.com/movies/57274/reviews/142392247)</sup> A horror-film blog similarly describes it as following the source material closely enough while adding a psychological twist of its own.<sup>[9](https://nerdlistsandhorrormovies.blogspot.com/2024/03/2000s-asian-horror-part-twenty-two.html)</sup>

In January 2006, before the Japanese film's release, [Sam Raimi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sam-raimi) and Rob Tapert's Ghost House Pictures acquired the Hollywood film rights to the *Siren* game from SCE Worldwide Studios, with Michael Gordon, a writer on *300*, attached to write the script.<sup>[10](https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0007723)</sup>

## Reception

On IMDb the film holds a rating of 5.4/10 from about 1,100 users.<sup>[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494815)</sup> Japanese users on allcinema gave it an average of 5.9 points from 43 votes.<sup>[11](https://www.allcinema.net/cinema/323470)</sup> Critical commentary has been mixed: one retrospective review called it a formulaic supernatural outing with weak digital effects and an overbearing score, while acknowledging that it follows the source material and that many video game films fare worse.<sup>[9](https://nerdlistsandhorrormovies.blogspot.com/2024/03/2000s-asian-horror-part-twenty-two.html)</sup> A Japanese reviewer who had not played the original game rated it as a standalone horror film at three stars out of five.<sup>[12](https://japanhorror.otoshiana.com/03_sa/sa.html)</sup>

## References

1. [サイレン／FORBIDDEN SIREN, 映画ナタリー](https://natalie.mu/eiga/film/144797)
2. [Siren (2006), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494815)
3. [サイレン FORBIDDEN SIREN (2006), シネマトゥデイ](https://www.cinematoday.jp/movie/T0004038)
4. [サイレン FORBIDDEN SIREN, allcinema](https://www.allcinema.net/cinema/pdf/323470)
5. [Weekend video game horror movie 2-in-1 bonanza!, Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2006/02/2988/)
6. [サイレン スタンダード・エディション DVD, Neowing](https://www.neowing.co.jp/product/TDV-16186D)
7. [Siren Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/siren/?ftag=MCD-06-10aaa1c)
8. [サイレン FORBIDDEN SIREN review, Filmarks](https://filmarks.com/movies/57274/reviews/142392247)
9. [2000s Asian Horror Part Twenty-Two, Nerd Lists and Horror Movies](https://nerdlistsandhorrormovies.blogspot.com/2024/03/2000s-asian-horror-part-twenty-two.html)
10. [サム・ライミによって人気TVゲーム「サイレン」ハリウッド映画化, シネマトゥデイ](https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0007723)
11. [映画 サイレン　FORBIDDEN SIREN (2006) - allcinema](https://www.allcinema.net/cinema/323470)
12. [和ホラー映画日記: サイレン ～FORBIDDEN SIREN～](https://japanhorror.otoshiana.com/03_sa/sa.html)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Films by genre, form, and subject › Adaptations of literature, stage, and other media › Films based on radio, television, and other media sources*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

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