(1991)
Dir - Shozin Fukui
Overall: WOOF
It would be nice to well, say something nice about Shozin Fukui's cyberpunk fever dream 964 Pinocchio, (aka Screams of Blasphemy), but besides some mere optically striking images, it is a pretentious, bafflinlgy annoying nightmare. To say it is a bit much to watch every single character frantically spaz-out and scream in just about every scene that they are in while generally being covered in garbage or eating puke is but one of the things that makes this movie unwatchable. The other, perhaps even more detrimental aspect are the filmmaking 101 rules that Fukui routinely ignores. Whether it is simple and often unnecessary establishing shots or sequences of people running around while yelling, they just keep going and going and going to such an extent that eyes will be rolling and watches will be checked by the viewer. Other sequences are shot so poorly that the screen is literally pitch black while who knows what is going on, again accompanied by more screaming and yelling. Sure it all ends with a cyborg putting on a giant rock head and saying how good it feels, but by that point the movie has desensitized you so much to its own weirdness and by its own amateurish execution that you will be eternally grateful the credits immediately roll afterwards.
(1996)
Dir - Kei Fujiwara
Overall: WOOF
This unfocused, incomprehensible mess was the first of to date two movies that Kei Fujiwara directed solo, having previously collaborated with and stared in Shinya Tsukamoto's infamous and celebrated Tetsuo: The Iron Man. Bizarre in a relatively different context from the frequently challenging work of Tsukamoto, whatever the hell is going on in Organ, (Orugan), or what type of horror movie Fujiwara was even trying to make in the first place cannot be logically deciphered. From frame one to frame last, the film's plot is horribly conveyed. Unwritten characters weave in and out of almost exclusively bloody and gore-drenched set pieces while frequently writhing in pain as they stab, shoot, and wail on each other when they are not being mutilated or turned into literal vegetables or something. There are many other disgusting moments aside from these that just seem to be there to at least give the viewer something to be repulsed by since everything else that is happening can scarcely be followed. The fact that two of the characters are twins and one of them only narrates the movie at the very beginning before turning into a stumbling, drugged-out scumbag who is still supposed to be some sort of "good guy" twenty minutes in does not help in keeping anything together. Good luck to all who give it a try and have the stomach for all the relentless blood and guts.
(1998)
Dir - Wilson Yip
Overall: GOOD
Pure silliness abounds in Wilson Yip's Bio Zombie, a late 90s, Generation X horror comedy that overcomes its highly derivative premise by being consistently funny with a series of memorable characters. Intentionally styled after a videogame in some parts with on screen text and a hilarious scene where everyone poses with their battle stats popping up, yes it is a bunch of people trapped in a mall who cannot call for help. Their cars also do not start because horror movies, plus more than a few moments succumb to plot holes yet it embraces its own goofiness every step of the way. It might seem odd when characters act like macho jagoffs one second, then act like cowards the next, then talk to law enforcement officers like they have no authority whatsoever, then have bonding conversations with them a moment later, and it all adds to the quirkiness. Many of the death scenes are actually kind of potent and it is impressive how the film gradually shifts our sympathies around from character to character. If it sounds like a big ball of chaos, that is an accurate assumption. Yet because the tone stays consistent and fairly resembles Peter Jackson's masterpiece Braindead, (even if the gore here is astronomically toned-down in comparison of course), it would be dishonest to say that it is not a lot of fun.
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