Morgue Worker Uncovers Chilling Secrets in 'Jōhatsu' Film

In November 2025, the Lithuanian thriller 'Jōhatsu' has been acquired for North America by Cineverse and Fandor. The film, which world premiered at the 2024 Tallinn Critics' Picks Competition, will debut via digital and Fandor early next year.

Directed by Lina Lužytė and Nerijus Milerius, 'Jōhatsu' follows city morgue worker Lina (Zygimante Jakstaite) as she becomes unconvinced by the behavior of a dead man's estranged wife. Lina begins to investigate, but as her search leads her to a grim Lithuanian port town, she becomes fascinated by the phenomenon of 'jōhatsu' - a Japanese term for individuals who choose to disappear without a trace.

The film explores the unsettling idea of people erasing their own histories and the impenetrable obscurity of their motivations. As Lina's investigation uncovers dark secrets, the story asks where her search will take her and what she is really looking for.

Described as a "deceptively subdued thriller" that "locates terror in the impossibility of really knowing our fellow humans," 'Jōhatsu' is a haunting and deeply human work of art that is sure to captivate audiences when it arrives next year.