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

Beyond the Wall of Sleep by Barrett J. Leigh & Thom Maurer [2006]

Title: Beyond the Wall of Sleep
Director: Barrett J. Leigh & Thom Maurer
Starring: Fountain Yount, Greg Fawcett, William Sanderson
Runtime: 84 minutes
Year: 2006
Source: Generation X Video

According to the box, this little number is based on the short story of the same name by H.P Lovecraft. I really don't see how, but I guess not many directors can bring story to film and make it a success.

I don't even really know how to give you a rundown on this release. The first 40 minutes or so are all over the place. Shortly you come to realize the main setting is an Asylum filled with crazy patients and even more crazy Doctors and an intern wearing a terrible dollar store wig. There is no 'good guy' or 'bad guy', it's all just a bunch of inbred hillbillies, some just happen to be wearing white coats and have the upper hand in the whack job experiments happening.

Some parts are so over the top you can't help but laugh, while other parts are too out there and confusing it's hard to follow [or care to make the effort]. I'm sure there is a legion of fans, simply due to the Lovecraft connection. But if someone can point out a good reason to give this another viewing [the bad boob job doesn't count, wasn't worth seeing the first time around] then I will pop it back in.

The ending has some good laughs, but not worth picking up... no matter how cheap the cost.

Not recommended.


j.

Horror of the Blood Monsters by Al Adamson [1970]

Title: Horror of the Blood Monsters
Director: Al Adamson
Starring: John Carradine, Robert Dix, Vicki Volante
Runtime: 85 minutes
Year: 1970
Source: Zip.ca

This movie gets one big Wtf? For one, it has a zillion titles. I don't think re-releasing a movie multiple times under various titles is really going to generate that much more revenue. Also, it seems like there is various movies all kind of sliced up and mashed together to make this craptastic piece.

It was more than difficult to sit and watch the whole thing, although some parts [like the beginning] were so bad they were kind of good? Just skip the terrible parts for a few so bad it's good parts, but even then, it's not really worth the effort.

Not recommended.

j.