Japan is home to some of the most insane films on the planet. I have loads of the films featured on Moviehooker throughout the years, but I have never put them all in a list together for your twisted viewing pleasure
I started just wanting to do a top ten but it is just impossible. Japan has too many insane films so I have decided to make this a 3-part post with the second instalment arriving early next week.
Ok, this list can’t be proper if it doesn’t feature the films of legendary director Takeshi Miike, so I have featured his films first.
HAPPINESS OF THE KATIKURI’S
“The Sound Of Music meets Dawn Of The Dead” was the only thing that I had to read on the cover to make me foam at the mouth and want to buy Takeshi Miike’s musical mentalpiece.
This is a pretty crazy film and tells the story of a family-run B&B that is under serious pressure. They are in danger of closing as a new motorway is about to be built next to the B&B which will mean all potential customers will pass by without even knowing that they exist.
When the few customers they do get start to die in suspicious circumstances, they panic. Instead of calling the cops they bury the bodies in a forest that is also called The Forest Of Resurrection.
As the bodies mount up, so does the undead, and as the undead mount up then you better get ready to get on your dancing shoes.
I remember watching this for the first time, and nearly dropping to the floor with laughter. It was the craziest thing to see; one minute it’s a serious movie about struggling B&B that can’t seem to catch a break; then, there are zombies and the whole cast is singing and dancing.
The Happiness Of The Katakuris [2003] [DVD]
ICHI THE KILLER
Ichi The Killer is based on a popular ultra-violent Manga comic of the same name and I don’t think any other director could’ve pulled this off other than Miike.
Ichi works for a crime boss, but they have him brainwashed. When Ichi was young he was bullied to the point of breaking, a crime syndicate trained him to be the ultimate killing machine. His rage is ignited by using his fear of his tormentors as fuel.
Also, features one of the most memorable villains to ever be put on screen – Kakihara – a sadomasochistic member of the Yakuza. He has a self-inflicted Mexican smile, both sides of his face are slit and have piercings in them. When he exhales a cigarette, we see the smoke come out from the side of his face. My mind was blown the first time I saw this guy.
Ichi The Killer [DVD] [2003]
AUDITION
The film follows a sneaky director who holds false auditions for a role that does not exist. What seemed like a good idea at the time and an easy way to get a partner quickly turned into the worst decision he had ever made in his life.
Let’s just say the woman is a little bat-shit-crazy and when she finds out that the relationship was made up just so the director could get laid – she doesn’t take the news too lightly. It’s time to break out the piano wire and needles.
Some of the most shocking scenes in Asian cinema – Audition is one of the more popular titles in Asian horror – it still would need a special kind of viewer to want to watch this sort of film.
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