Without actually reading a Rampo story, viewers (including me) might be at a be disadvantage appreciating this production. Long, arty in good ways and bad, disturbing and gory at times, this is not an off the shelf horror film even for Japan.
The four directors bring their individual talents to each story. The first story is the most abstract and while very beautiful at times passes like an avant-garde experimental film, evocative imagery to be evoked by few.
The second story is by bad boy director Akio Jissoji. Like other films from his 40 year career it's filled with incredible visual compositions and scenes of S/M sex. The story is reasonably good and the closest to a normal plot in the entire film. The ridiculous S/M scene excluded, this segment works well.
The third by Sato, focuses on mutilation and torment, as a woman "cares" for her "caterpillar" war hero husband. Care includes whipping the invalid and slicing his nipple off. The entire segment takes place in a destroyed bunker, apparently right after or during WWII. The married couple share the bunker with the woman's uncle's assistant who watches over a hidden art collection. The uncle has left for an "island". Bizarre and perverse, this segment is tough to watch at times and not because of the effects. The behavior is very weird and disturbing.
The fourth, apparently by a first time director, is the weakest visually although it has some excellent set design. A rash afflicted limo driver with an extreme germ phobia longs for his boss, a beautiful theater actress. This segment is essentially a head long dive into madness as the driver kills the actress to "save" her from her boyfriend who places weird leeches on her neck. The story shifts gears as the driver now has to deal with the germs rotting her body. While well photographed, after the Caterpillar segment I needed something paced better. The black humor is a relief but this one just takes too long until we get to the very disgusting ending.
Total together? Moderately entertaining for segments two and three. The film has a typical Japanese running theme of violence against women. Even the third segment ends with the woman character getting something done to her by a man. Director Jissoji has been doing films like this for 40 years, get over it man! While the misogyny might not mean anything to you (it's probably the reason some will watch it) the acting might be more of an issue. There's been an unfortunate trend in recent Japanese movies to hire rock and roll pretty boys instead of accomplished actors. Both segments two and three suffer as important parts are given to actors who can't really do the roles. The S/M scene in segment two is just awful because of it.
An interesting experiment in anthology horror. Is about as successful as the Italian/French "Spirits of the Damned" from the 1960's. More disgusting however.
The four directors bring their individual talents to each story. The first story is the most abstract and while very beautiful at times passes like an avant-garde experimental film, evocative imagery to be evoked by few.
The second story is by bad boy director Akio Jissoji. Like other films from his 40 year career it's filled with incredible visual compositions and scenes of S/M sex. The story is reasonably good and the closest to a normal plot in the entire film. The ridiculous S/M scene excluded, this segment works well.
The third by Sato, focuses on mutilation and torment, as a woman "cares" for her "caterpillar" war hero husband. Care includes whipping the invalid and slicing his nipple off. The entire segment takes place in a destroyed bunker, apparently right after or during WWII. The married couple share the bunker with the woman's uncle's assistant who watches over a hidden art collection. The uncle has left for an "island". Bizarre and perverse, this segment is tough to watch at times and not because of the effects. The behavior is very weird and disturbing.
The fourth, apparently by a first time director, is the weakest visually although it has some excellent set design. A rash afflicted limo driver with an extreme germ phobia longs for his boss, a beautiful theater actress. This segment is essentially a head long dive into madness as the driver kills the actress to "save" her from her boyfriend who places weird leeches on her neck. The story shifts gears as the driver now has to deal with the germs rotting her body. While well photographed, after the Caterpillar segment I needed something paced better. The black humor is a relief but this one just takes too long until we get to the very disgusting ending.
Total together? Moderately entertaining for segments two and three. The film has a typical Japanese running theme of violence against women. Even the third segment ends with the woman character getting something done to her by a man. Director Jissoji has been doing films like this for 40 years, get over it man! While the misogyny might not mean anything to you (it's probably the reason some will watch it) the acting might be more of an issue. There's been an unfortunate trend in recent Japanese movies to hire rock and roll pretty boys instead of accomplished actors. Both segments two and three suffer as important parts are given to actors who can't really do the roles. The S/M scene in segment two is just awful because of it.
An interesting experiment in anthology horror. Is about as successful as the Italian/French "Spirits of the Damned" from the 1960's. More disgusting however.