200 GALLONS OF GORE, AND A CROCODILE SNATCH…
August 4, 2008
For the last 2 weeks, I have been a guest of both the Melbourne and Brisbane International Film Festivals here in Australia, where the feature documentary NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD in which my early work is examined has premiered to great response. I’m prejudiced obviously, because the film is kind to me, but I can tell you honestly that NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD is very funny, and a great date movie for any couple who love cinema. More on my experiences at these two great film festivals in next weeks blog. It’s been crazy busy almost 24/7. I have to run to a radio interview soon, so this blog’s a quickie. But check out this trailer for TOKYO GORE POLICE which I saw last night. Shot in 14 days by the prosthetic make-up artist for Takashi Miike’s Tokyo shock movies, it delivers more splatter and body parts than any previous example of the genre.
The homicidal hooker with the snapping crocodile vagina has to be seen to be believed. Ouch!! ( I know, I am a sick and wicked puppy…) In fact the end result is overkill and gore burn-out for me. I want more story and character amid the mayhem, not to mention action scenes that are shot in more than just a succession of close-ups - good action needs geography - but fans of J Horror and Tokyo Shock won’t be disappointed.
The film also stars the beautiful and relentless serial killer from Miike’s AUDITION, the statuesque Eihi Shiina. I got into a taxi taking BIFF guests to the screening and found myself sitting next to her. ( This prompted a quick look around for a squirming duffel bag. Perhaps she left it at the hotel…) Eihi speaks no English so her responses at the Q&A went through an interpreter. This process did not diminish her evident intelligence and personal charm. We learned that for relaxation she writes poetry, so I asked her to recite a favourite verse. Her recitation, despite translation, revealed a beautiful spirit yearning for a better world. I hope more roles come her way that reveal the depth and range she displayed in AUDITION. In TOKYO GORE POLICE she is not asked to do much more that be a baleful Terminatrix. Many Japanese actresses have shown their ability to perform English dialogue phonetically with all the meaning and nuance the writer intends. She has a remarkable presence on the screen. Let’s hope some enterprising casting directors for western films can see her potential. More on Festival Life next week.
After that I want to see it. It kind of has a Troma feel to it and I mean that as a compliment. I love Troma flicks but what else would you expect form The Movie Whore.
Sounds like I need to be paying more attention to some of these Japanese actresses. What are some other flicks you would recommend to get good feel for these actresses and what they can do?
Cruise the shelves of your video store for J-Horror. Try BATTLE ROYALE if you haven’t already.