Another day, another Takashi Miike film!
This time, Visitor Q, a vastly different film from the first. The plot (?) is simple, a dysfunctional family cross paths (by means of him hitting the father over the head with a rock) with a stranger, who moves in and brings them closer together. Emphasis on the 'dysfunctional' though, Visitor Q isn't on this list for no reason. I think it hits every taboo possible, we get incest, murder, sexual assault, domestic abuse between son and mother, bullying, prostitution, and last but not least, necrophilia. Okay guys, bear with me on this one, it's not the easiest film to review, it may also make me sound like a terrible misogynistic sadist.
I'll start with the look of the film, it's shot on dodgy digital camera, and it looks low budget, but then again, it is... Some of the shots are still fantastic, and emphasis isn't put on 'shaky cam'. It's strange to have such a nice looking film, shot with the cheapest means possible. But I do think that strange is the only way to describe this film.
The acting is superb, it might feel a little over the top at times, but given what the film is, it fits. When your family are this f**ked up, I'm pretty sure everything is a little bit crazy. Visitor Q is on this list, but it would sit a lot higher if it wasn't just really funny; this might actually be the darkest comedy you ever watch, and since it's been scripted and directed in that way, it might just make sense for the acting to be a little OTT.
This is such a hard film to review because it is just so bizarre. I mean, there shouldn't be anything funny about accidentally killing your bit on the side whilst trying to sexually assault her, then having sex with her dead body, but it is somehow made into the most hilarious part of the film! Nothing really makes sense or is explained, but hey, that just adds to the charm.
Is there a deeper meaning, or themes to explore? I don't think so, I think this is just a twisted little comedy, maybe there might be some social commentary that went straight over my head because I don't know much about Japanese culture, buuuuuuuuut I doubt it. I think this is definitely a film to be taken at face value.
We get a fantastic scene midway through the film, where the family are enjoying dinner, the son throws hot soup at his mother, so she throws a knife at him?! Then the son's bullies attack the house with fireworks, and instead of going outside and stopping it, the father picks up the camera and walks around screaming about the damage being done, even sneaking in a little comment about how nice dinner was. It's a scene that shouldn't be funny, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't giggle.
It is so hard to do this film justice, but I hope I peaked your interest. I can't say I'd recommend it, because there are some people who might find this film a little too much, but it is a fantastic watch. The only things that I would say really let it down, aside from shooting on digital camera, is the plot, or lack thereof, and the fact that in terms of gore, I don't think they could afford any decent special effects, so instead chose to not show the gore on screen, which is fine for most films, but something as extreme as this, it doesn't work.
Like I said, I can't really recommend it unless you're already into disturbing cinema, in which case, GO AND WATCH IT.
7.5/10
This time, Visitor Q, a vastly different film from the first. The plot (?) is simple, a dysfunctional family cross paths (by means of him hitting the father over the head with a rock) with a stranger, who moves in and brings them closer together. Emphasis on the 'dysfunctional' though, Visitor Q isn't on this list for no reason. I think it hits every taboo possible, we get incest, murder, sexual assault, domestic abuse between son and mother, bullying, prostitution, and last but not least, necrophilia. Okay guys, bear with me on this one, it's not the easiest film to review, it may also make me sound like a terrible misogynistic sadist.
I'll start with the look of the film, it's shot on dodgy digital camera, and it looks low budget, but then again, it is... Some of the shots are still fantastic, and emphasis isn't put on 'shaky cam'. It's strange to have such a nice looking film, shot with the cheapest means possible. But I do think that strange is the only way to describe this film.
The acting is superb, it might feel a little over the top at times, but given what the film is, it fits. When your family are this f**ked up, I'm pretty sure everything is a little bit crazy. Visitor Q is on this list, but it would sit a lot higher if it wasn't just really funny; this might actually be the darkest comedy you ever watch, and since it's been scripted and directed in that way, it might just make sense for the acting to be a little OTT.
This is such a hard film to review because it is just so bizarre. I mean, there shouldn't be anything funny about accidentally killing your bit on the side whilst trying to sexually assault her, then having sex with her dead body, but it is somehow made into the most hilarious part of the film! Nothing really makes sense or is explained, but hey, that just adds to the charm.
Is there a deeper meaning, or themes to explore? I don't think so, I think this is just a twisted little comedy, maybe there might be some social commentary that went straight over my head because I don't know much about Japanese culture, buuuuuuuuut I doubt it. I think this is definitely a film to be taken at face value.
We get a fantastic scene midway through the film, where the family are enjoying dinner, the son throws hot soup at his mother, so she throws a knife at him?! Then the son's bullies attack the house with fireworks, and instead of going outside and stopping it, the father picks up the camera and walks around screaming about the damage being done, even sneaking in a little comment about how nice dinner was. It's a scene that shouldn't be funny, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't giggle.
It is so hard to do this film justice, but I hope I peaked your interest. I can't say I'd recommend it, because there are some people who might find this film a little too much, but it is a fantastic watch. The only things that I would say really let it down, aside from shooting on digital camera, is the plot, or lack thereof, and the fact that in terms of gore, I don't think they could afford any decent special effects, so instead chose to not show the gore on screen, which is fine for most films, but something as extreme as this, it doesn't work.
Like I said, I can't really recommend it unless you're already into disturbing cinema, in which case, GO AND WATCH IT.
7.5/10
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