I'm a big Takashi Miike fan, and this movie definitely belongs in my collection. However, I could see why most people would look past it. The opening scene is fantastic, with fast action and motion between situations. After that the movie slows down significantly, and I believe too much so.
The story is very well written and filled with tension, but the acting is sub-par. One of the main characters, Ryu, shows barely any emotion throughout, even at points where he clearly should. An event that directly precedes the ending is in my book one of the most unexpected twists in Miike history. The ending itself is just ridiculous.
Unless you're a college student like me, or a fan of the absurd, this ending will validate throwing the movie away. While it may seem like I'm a little harsh, its only because I've set my standards for Miike so high. Overall, a good movie to watch if you like Japanese exploitation films.
The story is very well written and filled with tension, but the acting is sub-par. One of the main characters, Ryu, shows barely any emotion throughout, even at points where he clearly should. An event that directly precedes the ending is in my book one of the most unexpected twists in Miike history. The ending itself is just ridiculous.
Unless you're a college student like me, or a fan of the absurd, this ending will validate throwing the movie away. While it may seem like I'm a little harsh, its only because I've set my standards for Miike so high. Overall, a good movie to watch if you like Japanese exploitation films.