If you're in the mood for a pleasant love story, avoid "Birds Without Names" like the plague. On the other hand, if you're cursing the idea of another Christmas alone, revel in the hope that all relationships may be as bad as the ones in this film.

"Birds Without Names" is one part murder mystery and several parts dysfunctional love story, and it's based on Mahokaru Numata's best-selling novel of the same name. Numata is currently the en vogue female writer of Japan's book world, and her work often features manipulative men, brutal women and messy relationships. Another Numata vehicle about a female serial killer, "Yurigokoro," is also currently in theaters.

When it comes to endless despair and virulent sexuality, however, "Birds Without Names" takes the cake. Directed by Kazuya Shiraishi, who has a solid reputation for depicting grit, crime and sex in films, this latest outing is based in the nether regions of Osaka. The characters all flaunt heavy Osaka accents that, for Kanto viewers, can sound provocative and menacing. The dialogue feels like part of the cast, taking on a life of its own as it snakes in and out of conversations or explodes with emotion.