What is the future of films in Japan? Bigger spectacles backed by media conglomerates? Maybe at the top end of the industry. At the lower end, though, indie filmmakers have to find other ways to draw audiences and finance films. Crowdfunding helps some get made, while ceaseless and creative PR on social media helps others get the word out.

Daisuke Ono's quirky comedy "Astral Abnormal Suzuki-san" suggests another strategy. Based on Ono's original script, the film began as a series of 17 short videos on YouTube's AlphaBoat Stories channel, with the first going online in June. The 87-minute film is a director's cut of that series.

The obvious objective was to create a viral sensation with a boost from lead Honoka Matsumoto, a 21-year-old actress who caught a career break with a role in the 2017 hit NHK drama "Hiyokko." The sensation has yet to materialize, but the film is a rough-cut gem that takes satirical aim at everything from pushy, devious media types to desperate, uninhibited YouTubers like the title heroine, who is constantly coming up with bizarre stunts to grab attention.