(2014)
Dir - Kōji Shiraishi
Overall: MEH
The flimsy logic, (or lack thereof), and joyless character traits continue with the fifth installment in Kōji Shiraishi's Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi series, Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi! Preface: True Theory, Yotsuya Kaidan, the Curse of Oiwa. After the events of the last chapter where a psychic medium hilariously met her death by a random chair falling on her, the paranormal DVD-making team takes a quick break until their severely-lacking-in-charisma-leader Shigeo Ôsako easily convinces them to renew their recklessly dangerous work because they are making more money now in proving that otherworldly things exist. Whatta guy. One could argue that the formula is getting tedious at this point since it is the same ole set up of the crew filming themselves having meetings, getting a new tape to investigate, instant replaying the scary parts, adding scary music, and investigating the mystery while arbitrarily getting angry at people. On the other hand though, the lore is deepening as Chika Kuboyama is now possessed and they need a new exorcist, (who is also an asshole), to both free her and the world of malevolent forces
(2014)
Dir - Kōji Shiraishi
Overall: WOOF
After establishing itself with a different urban legend monster for each entry, Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi: The Most Terrifying Movie in History is officially where the wheels fall off in Kōji Shiraishi's now preposterous series. While all of these films follow a linear trajectory thus far, this one most directly follows up its predecessor which ended with Shigeo Ôsako proclaiming to his two person crew that they were going to "make a movie", as if it was the first time and not the sixth time that they have done so. This one does not have a new video for them to decipher, instead going straight into the cursed village that had been mentioned in Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi! Preface: True Theory, Yotsuya Kaidan, the Curse of Oiwa, which was already something that Shiraishi did to wonderful effect in Noroi: The Curse. Sadly, the results here are more ridiculous than wonderful, as Ôsako's douchebag director goes full on psychotic maniac, beating the shit out of two people with a bat, killing one of them, punching his grandfather, kicking his partner Chika Kuboyama while screaming at her, (again), traveling back in time to kill two more people, and then turning into a tentacle demon or something himself while Kuboyama is decapitated in the embarrassing CGI neather-realm that the cameraman still manages to get pristine footage from. We are given an explanation to all this which works as well as any in such convoluted world building, but the series has jumped the shark as far as adhering to a found footage framework. In the meta "logic" of this world, each movie is released to the public, but how the events here could be shown to anyone is simply a pill that is too moronic to swallow.
(2015)
Dir - Kōji Shiraishi
Overall: MEH
Any time that a horror property utilizes the word "final" in its title, that is only a guarantee that at least six further sequels are still on the way. For round seven in the Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi series, filmmaker Kōji Shiraishi tries to both bring everything full circle and dig himself out of the preposterous hole that his universe has dug itself into, opening the film with the one returning cast member who is not stuck in an evil dimension and/or missing limbs, (Kôji Shiraishi), explaining the state of still unsolved affairs. Japan is on lock-down after a horrendously bad CGI giant was seen hovering in the sky by presumably millions, meanwhile all of the incriminating and otherworldly footage from the last movie was released and still labeled a "hoax" by authorities. So in other words, Shiraishi only digs himself further in the implausible muck. The good news is that it is impossible to take Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi: Final Chapter seriously on any level, since Shiraishi has concocted so many "Wait, WTF?" rules, so we are beyond the point of plausibility and into full on gonzo J-horror land. The initial "monster of the week" trajectory is long gone, but everything has escalated to such an wacky place that Shiraishi can at least be applauded for his arbitrary and reckless inventiveness. Plus, (finally), Shigeo Ôsako and Chika Kuboyama actually crack a smile and laugh at their toxic relationship and the whole absurdity of the end of the world scenario.
No comments:
Post a Comment