Based on a story by the “Godfather of Manga”, Osamu Tezuka, and guided by the visionary hand of one of the most eclectic directors to come out of the Japanese filmmaking scene, Takeshi Miike, Apple’s new iPhone short Midnight emerges as essential viewing for enthusiasts of Japanese culture and fans of action-packed cinema. Described by Miike as “Tezuka’s hidden masterpiece”, this energetic 19-minute short tells the story of a mysterious taxi driver who only appears at night. Featuring adrenaline-fueled fight scenes, exhilarating car chases and even a puppet that shoots laser beams the film serves as a captivating introduction to Miike’s innovative filmmaking style, a heartfelt tribute to manga, and a bold, high-concept standalone creation.

Announcing its central character as a man who peers into the “countless faces” of the night one-by-one, we’re introduced to Midnight, and his hi-tech car, as he ferries a couple of passengers across town. After they annoy the driver by constantly bumping his chair, he employs one of his vehicle’s many gadgets to teach them a lesson. The message here: “No one rides for free”.

After a run-in with a neon truck that catapults a rock into his taxi window, Midnight meets its driver, Kaede, a young girl whose father (the previous driver of the truck) was killed in a turf war. From that point, the film’s reluctant hero has to decide whether to assist his new acquaintance in her quest for revenge or drive off into the night. What ensues is a high-octane, rock-driven, stunt-filled chase through the dark streets of Tokyo. It’s trademark Miike, but with the gore dialled down to zero.

Shot entirely on the iPhone 15 Pro, Miike praised the “dynamic” capabilities of the device, explaining how it became the perfect tool for capturing the speed and energy expressed in Tezuka’s drawings. Aiming to capture the frames of the original manga as accurately as possible, cinematographer Nobuyasu Kita reveals that the phone was instrumental in allowing them to “shoot the impossible angles Tezuka imagined”. While the phones scanning abilities, also meant it proved key in the visual effects work. Watching the ‘Making of’ video that accompanies Midnight, its clear this film was made as an advert for the device, but Miike pushes it to its limits and as always creates something truly unique.

Midnight is the latest in a series of impressive short films created by Apple to showcase the imagery its possible to capture on one of their devices. It’s also another addition to the 100+ titles in Miike’s filmography, making him one of the prolific directors the industry has ever seen – and now a Short of the Week alum.