When it comes to bizarre Japanese horror films, one must mention BODYSNATCHER FROM HELL. This intensely atmospheric film tells of a Japanese commercial flight that crashes in a remote desert, after which the survivors must contend with the elements, a mad bomber, an assassin, flying saucers, brain-invading space-blobs, and vampires created by the blobs! The film has some really strong visuals and amazing color photography. Unfortunately, it's ultimately undone by it's overwhelming nihilism. Don't expect to walk away without being slightly depressed when it's all over (and it ends about six times before the film finally throws it's hands up and calls it quits), but the film is worth a look for genre fans. Although it was shot in the late 60's, it didn't reach US screens until about a decade later. And, although the on screen title is BODYSNATCHER FROM HELL, it seems to be known by everyone as "Goke, Bodysnatcher From Hell." Criterion recently released the film in a DVD collection, but failed to include the dub track -a real slip up from such a reputable company. The same crew also made the mind-boggling (and even more humanity hating) disaster epic GENOCIDE, which is one of those movies where every single frame contains something strange/inept -a major plot thread involves a man's affair with a girl who turns out to be a concentration camp survivor and she proves it by flashing the camp tattoo across her chest. How exactly you could be carrying on such a physical tryst with a woman and never see this particular area of her body remains a mystery among many, many others. Oh, the film's main story is about insects revolting and warring against mankind. Compared to GENOCIDE, BODYSNATCHER FROM HELL is a masterpiece! (By the way, are there a lot of large desert areas in Japan?)
No comments:
Post a Comment