Suicide Club by Sion Sono [2002]

Title: Suicide Club [aka Suicide Circle]
Director: Sion Sono
Starring: Saya Hagiwara, Ryo Ishibashi, Akaji Maro
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2002

I hunted down this movie after only seeing a short 2 minute clip on YouTube of the opening scene. A scene that includes 54 laughing schoolgirls jumping in front of a speeding train. It's a cheese bloodsplatter shot that makes me smile all big on the inside. I was certain this was going to be another comedy driven J-horror film.

Unfortunately, not so much.

Instead it's this drawn out confusing mesh of social commentary, mass suicidals, unlikeable characters, and over the top annoying pop music that seems to come out of nowhere randomly. Uh, fun?

Maybe I'm just not with it today, cause I only understood what was going on about half the time and even then, it wasn't anything all that special. Sure there was some sweet scenes here and there but over all, I just wasn't impressed.

The suicides were played out nicely for the most part. Almost every one was acted out by people with smiles on their faces, speaking together as though they are about to go out for a night of good times instead of stepping off a rooftop. If there was a little less social commentary and maybe a little more focus on the actual characters [and easy to warm up to ones would of been nice] then I think I may of kinda sorta enjoyed this movie.

It was most certainly nice on the eyes to watch, beautifully done, but that's all I got.

If for some reason you come down with the chicken pox next week and need to kill some time keeping your feet up, rent this. It'll kill and hour and a half for you with a few random upskirt shots, mediocre gore, and a few head scratching moments.

Half-assed recommended.


Jo

Inside [À l'intérieur] by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury [2007]

Title: Inside / À l'intérieur
Director: Alexandre Bustillo & Julien Maury
Starring: Béatrice Dalle, Alysson Paradis
Runtime: 83 minutes
Year: 2007

I've never heard so much good about a single movie as I have about Inside [exceptions being Halloween and Jaws]. And like those movies, this is one I'd recommend to anyone and everyone. There wasn't a single aspect or scene that disappointed me.

First of all the two main characters are strong female leads, a nice treat. Both are easy to identify with, easy to fall for, and very human. An element most horror villians lately seem to lack.

First we have Sarah, a young pregnant woman dealing with the recent death of her boyfriend. She's so distant and cold you'd almost assume she wanted absolutely nothing to do with the scheduled birth that is to take place the very next day. Almost as though she is left to just go through the motions, alive but not really living. The photographers scattered around her home just echo the reality that she is now just merely a shell of her former self.

Once the amazingly put together character, commonly refered to as La Femme, enters the picture the blood just starts to pour. Plenty of blood. No chainsaws, no hardcore ammunition, just everyday scissors and knitting needles. Never again will those simple objects be looked at as just household items. You could arm an army with these bad boys and get the job done as La Femme clearly demostrates. Basic tools tend to always get the job done the most visually appealing way when it comes to horror, time and time again.

As the movie gets going there's this heavy, nauseating feeling that just comes over you that prove just how damn good of a job this pair of directors did. They managed to pull of a constant urgent sense of emergency, the ongoing dread of no escape. This castrophobic moment where all Sarah can do is scream and beat at the walls that are keeping her confined is all to easy to relate to.

It seems easy enough to toss around buckets of blood and ruthless masked monsters, but to pull off what these dudes did? That level of suspence that keeps you demanding to know what's going to happen next. Man, all I can say is thank you. Easily one of the best films I've seen in recent history and already an instant classic in my collection.

I had waited quite a while to see this little number, but the wait was well worth it.

Highly recommended.


Jo

ps. If we've got each other linked, please update it to http://www.nightlyaccounts.com/ Thanks, ladies and gents.

The Machine Girl by Noboru Iguchi [2008]

Title: The Machine Girl
Director: Noboru Iguchi
Starring: Minase Yashiro, Asami, Ryōsuke Kawamura
Runtime: 96 minutes
Trailer: YouTube


Oh revenge fueled films, how I love thee. And those lovely Asian ladies in school girl outfits, I think I love you a little more. Thankfully with The Machine Girl we get both for the price of one.

There really isn't much to tell you about this little gem without giving you the goods. We have the ever adorable knock out Ami as The Machine Girl, of course she didn't pop out of the womb with a 8 barrel high power machine gun strapped to her arm. That'd be grounds for some post-birth abortion.

Instead she's the nice girl next door that just wants to lay low and do her family a world of good. Ami and Yu [her younger brother] are braving the world alone after their parents off themselves once accused of murder. Which we are kindly reminded of randomly with sweet one liners like, "What would mom and dad say, before they killed themselves over murder allegations?" Is that not some pure gold right there? Perhaps I'm easily amused.

This is straight up gore film. The blood is over the top and just keeps flowing. The kills are equally over the top provoking plenty of laughter. It's clear to see the dudes behind this number wanted you to laugh and I don't think for a moment they wanted to actually scare you. There's not an ounce of suspence, but plenty of impeccable moments worth watching over and over again.

Here's a repeat watch, a movie to toss on when you have people over, even if they are not fans of the genre. Hell, with the kind of kids I hang out with - this movie would clearly be a nice conversation starter plus a nice change of pace from what people typically watch when it comes to Japanese horror.

Highly recommended.



Jo

ps. If we've got each other linked, please update it to http://www.nightlyaccounts.com/ Thanks, ladies and gents.