By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Takashi Miike
Original language title: Gokudô kyôfu dai-gekijô: Gozu
Country: japan
Year: 2004
Running time: 129
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361668/combined
Michael says: “Ah, the rollercoaster ride that is a Takashi Miike film. With his latest American release, GOZU, we have a ride that starts of slowly, if perplexing. Midway through, things have gotten downright freakish, but the pace is still leisurely. Then, as the climax nears, we pick up speed rapidly, and the severe hills and drops arrive.
“There’s not much to say about the plot of GOZU. Ozaki is the number one brother in his yakuza clan. The Boss fears Ozaki is going mad, so he arranges for number two brother, Minami, to take care of the problem. When Minami ‘loses’ his brother’s body in a strange little town, he spends the next couple of days searching, only to become lost in a world of bizarrely freakish innkeepers, restaurant owners, dump owners and more. Ozaki’s ‘return’ is rather unexpected, and is part of what provides the latter quarters biggest shocks.
“Words don’t do Miike films justice, but if you were a fan of AUDITION, or even the films of David Lynch or David Cronenberg, you’ll definitely want to take a look at GOZU. 3 1/2 cats”